Uncategorized Archives - Page 29 of 274

Israel’s Pointless Attack on Syria

by Mohammad Aslam | Feb 14, 2013

Israel’s recent air strike on one of Syria’s premier military research centers came as no surprise to those monitoring the spiraling turn of events in the Levant over the last few months. In the days and weeks running up to the audacious attack, there were several signs that something was afoot—a scurry of Israeli envoys shuttling between Tel Aviv and Washington, reports of closed-door security meetings, the distribution of gas masks to residents of northern Israel, and the deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system in the same region, to name just a few.

Obama Could Go it Alone, Bring All the Troops Home, and Stop the Killing

by Phyllis Bennis | Feb 12, 2013

Focusing on the executive actions you can take without Congress is a great idea, Mr. President.

The Depths of Malaise in Palestine

by Daniel DePetris | Feb 12, 2013

According to recent polls of Palestinians, frustration with the Israel-Palestinian conflict is at a high point; the two-state solution is steadily losing credibility in the eyes of the people; and ordinary citizens in the Holy Land are starting to wonder whether a settlement can be achieved without another round of bloodshed.

Morsi’s Last Chance

by Adil E. Shamoo | Feb 11, 2013

Egypt is rapidly approaching its most acute political and economic crisis since the 2011 revolution that swept dictator Hosni Mubarak from power. Poverty is at an all-time high of 25 percent, with youth unemployment at a record 40 percent. Foreign currency reserves are on a rapid decline. And most importantly, President Mohamed Morsi is losing the most important commodity he possesses—the people’s confidence and trust.

Cerebus

by Beth Copeland | Feb 8, 2013

We cross desert sands to burning oil wells,
poised on banks of poison water that corrodes everything
but hooves of apocalyptic horses, wheels of humvees and tanks.
When we reach the adamantine gates of Iraq
it’s too late to turn back.

China’s Sudan Challenge

by Giorgio Cafiero | Feb 7, 2013

Sudan and China have enjoyed cordial relations for decades, developing a fruitful economic and political partnership dating back to their mutual estrangement from the West in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But Sudan’s 2011 partition has presented China with a new set of challenges. Namely, Beijing will be challenged to advance its interests in the Sudans while upholding its foreign policy principle of non-intervention in other states’ affairs.

Stop Registering Afghan Voters

by Inge Fryklund | Feb 5, 2013

International donors have sunk millions of dollars in an ineffectual, expensive, and easily circumvented Afghan voter registration system that is barely worthy of the name. But more importantly, the problems it is designed to address have proven completely negligible when compared to more prevalent forms of fraud such as ballot box stuffing and fraudulent counting.

Pomegranate Means Grenade

by Jamaal May | Feb 1, 2013

Hold a pomegranate in your palm,imagine ways to split it, think of the breaking skin as shrapnel. Remember granada means pomegranate and granadameans grenade because grenade takes its name from the fruit; identify war by what it takes away from fecund orchards.

The Mali Blowback: More to Come?

by Stephen Zunes | Feb 1, 2013

The French-led military offensive in its former colony of Mali has pushed back radical Islamists and allied militias from some of the country’s northern cities, freeing the local population from repressive Taliban-style totalitarian rule. However, despite these initial victories, it raises concerns as to what unforeseen consequences may lay down the road.

Postcard from Tokyo

by Jon Mitchell | Jan 31, 2013

Against a drumbeat of resurgent Japanese militarism, more than 140 Okinawan civic representatives made a historic trip to Tokyo on January 27. This was the first time since Okinawa reverted to Japanese control in 1972 that leaders from every municipality have visited the nation’s capital. And despite the bitter cold, they were met with a warm reception by 4,000 Tokyoites at a rally in Hibiya Park—before coming under assault by angry nationalists .