Tag: syria

Aiding Dzhokhar’s Syrian Comrades

Even as the nation recovers from the shock of the Boston Marathon bombing, the US government is under pressure to intervene in Syria on behalf of the Tsarnaev brothers’ jihadist compatriots. The drumbeat for intervention in Syria has been going on for many months, with the same neoconservatives who authored the Iraq war joining with … Continue reading “Aiding Dzhokhar’s Syrian Comrades”

Tunisia Now Exporting ‘Jihadis’ to Syria

Tunisian families have begun to dread knocks on their doors, or late-night phone calls, fearing that the messenger will bear the news that their son has been smuggled out of the country to join the “jihad” in Syria. Families here told IPS that they have no way of contacting their sons once they leave — … Continue reading “Tunisia Now Exporting ‘Jihadis’ to Syria”

Obama at the Edge of a Cliff in Middle East

With Syria and Iran, President Barack Obama faces getting mired in two wars that could set the entire Middle East aflame, and perhaps the rest of the Islamic world, too. Such an outcome would be in part due to Mr. Obama’s Middle Eastern policy, and the willingness of the current United States Congress to support … Continue reading “Obama at the Edge of a Cliff in Middle East”

Goading Gullible America Into War

As President Obama departed for Israel, there came a startling report. Bashar Assad’s regime had used poison gas on Syrian rebels. Two Israeli Cabinet members claimed credible evidence. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said, “It’s clear for us that (gas is) being used. … This … should be on the table in the discussions.” Yet, 72 … Continue reading “Goading Gullible America Into War”

The Syrian Back Door to War With Iran

Secretary of State John Kerry has long urged increased US support for Syria’s Islamist rebels, and now he has his wish: shortly after being confirmed, he announced the US would now directly aid rebel groups, rather than "indirectly," as we’ve supposedly been doing. Not only that, but the definition of "non-lethal" aid is being stretched … Continue reading “The Syrian Back Door to War With Iran”

Hold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling

The United States and Saudi Arabia appear to be ramping up aid to the Syrian rebels. Here we go again on the road to debacle. Why? The media never holds anybody to either their predictions or their results–officeholders, politicians, and of course their own pundits. And it’s a good thing for people like Bill Kristol, … Continue reading “Hold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling”

‘He’s Killing His Own People!’

“He’s killing his own people!” It’s a familiar refrain to those of us who’ve been paying attention the past decade or so: it’s what our leaders in both parties said about Saddam Hussein by way of justifying the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and it’s what they’re saying now about Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who … Continue reading “‘He’s Killing His Own People!’”

Next Stop: Syria

A new study says the British have invaded nine out of ten countries on earth: during the course of their long history of conquest, only 22 nations escaped Britannia’s imperial wrath. And it looks like they’re at it again, with British Prime Minister David Cameron declaring it’s time to arm the Syrian rebels, outfit the … Continue reading “Next Stop: Syria”

Ignore Syrian Rebels’ Threats

Syrian rebels, in a stalemated conflict with the autocratic Bashar al-Assad, predictably are trying every trick to suck more help out of the United States. They are using the same tactic that developing nations used against U.S. policymakers during the Cold War to get more money and assistance: fear of takeover by extremists. The new … Continue reading “Ignore Syrian Rebels’ Threats”