Juan Cole

A Brief Middle East History Lesson for Mitt Romney

A Brief Middle East History Lesson for Mitt Romney

JUAN COLE: The Presidential candidate appears to be entirely clueless about the recent history of US involvement in the region. Heres’ some help.

 Richard Silverstein

Western Liberals and their ‘Problem’ with “Muslim Rage”

Western Liberals and their ‘Problem’ with “Muslim Rage”

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: We’re [Christians and Jews] above that sort of blood-letting. We solve our differences civilly through debate and the free exchange of ideas. As if…

 Mondoweiss

It’s Simple: Americans Don’t Want War With Iran

It’s Simple: Americans Don’t Want War With Iran

PHLIP WEISS: The Israeli lobby is taking a pummelling at the moment as leading commentators stand up to confront it. Is this a real turning point?

 Mondoweiss

The Long and Tortured History of Islamophobia

The Long and Tortured History of Islamophobia

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: Deepa Kumar has written a detailed study of Islamophobia which links it inextricably to the cause of Empire

 Jonathan Cook

The God Complex: The West’s Right to War in the Middle East

The God Complex: The West’s Right to War in the Middle East

Jonathan Cook: If the West succeeds in its proxy intervention in Syria and disables yet another Arab state for refusing to toe its line, the stage will be set for the next target: Iran.

 David Roberts

Iran ‘2 Years from Nuclear Weapon’…in 1984

Iran ‘2 Years from Nuclear Weapon’…in 1984

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s a familiar theme – Iran is close to producing a nuclear weapon and time is running out. What can Israel do?

 Tabsir

The Myth That is Values-Based Analysis

The Myth That is Values-Based Analysis

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The U.S should only support regimes that believe in ‘our values’, says Tom Friedman. Really?

 Common Ground News Service

Detangling the Holocaust from Politics

Detangling the Holocaust from Politics

MORIEL ROTHMAN, CGNEWS: I found my recent visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial deeply troubling.

 Richard Silverstein

U.S., Israel Iranian Delusions Continue

U.S., Israel Iranian Delusions Continue

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: What if we can’t find alternates? What if Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Libya can’t fill the gap? What if the oil price goes through the roof?

 Juan Cole

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

JUAN COLE: So much that is misinformed, over-hyped and simply plain wrong has been written about the Arab Spring. So let’s sort the wheat from the chaff.

 Common Ground News Service

The View from Over Here: Shifting Perceptions of the U.S. Post Arab Spring

The View from Over Here: Shifting Perceptions of the U.S. Post Arab Spring

SALIBA SARSAR: Surveying 3000 people in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and the UAE, the poll assessed attitudes toward US- MidEast relations.

 Juan Cole

Democracy: More Valued by Arabs than Americans?

Democracy: More Valued by Arabs than Americans?

JUAN COLE: Al Qaeda’s vision for the Arab World has been comprehensively rejected. It appears that Arabs – in particular, young Arabs – are prepared to put their lives on the line, not for a Caliphate, but for parliamentary democracy.

 Crossroads Arabia

American Politics: The View From Over Here

American Politics: The View From Over Here

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Local commentators are premature in seeing the current debate as a reflection on the issues that will come to the fore in the presidential campaign.

 Abu Muhammed

The United States: A Nice Place to Visit, But…

The United States: A Nice Place to Visit, But…

ABU MUHAMMED: Guys from India and such places in the Far East generally have the worst time with me popping their soap bubble of hope of the United States as being a paradise on earth…

 Susie of Arabia

Reel Bad Arabs: Hollywood’s Take on 325m People

Reel Bad Arabs: Hollywood’s Take on 325m People

SUSIE OF ARABIA: Here’s a game. Try to think of a positive portrayal of Arab life in a recent Hollywood movie? No, didn’t think you could.

 Juan Cole

Ten Real Reasons To Attack the Bigoted Weiner

Ten Real Reasons To Attack the Bigoted Weiner

JUAN COLE: Forget about the ‘sexting scandal’, Anthony Weiner has a lot more to answer for than some private peccadilloes. His blind allegiance to Israel means that he’s played a uniformly sinister role on Middle East matters.

 Steve Royston

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

STEVE ROYSTON: There are many reasons why the ‘Arab Voice’ is so weak in the United States. But that doesn’t give leaders and opinion formers an excuse.

 Mondoweiss

Frustration with U.S on Palestine Catalysing More Direct Measures

Frustration with U.S on Palestine Catalysing More Direct Measures

DAVID SCHWARTZMAN, MAI ABDUL, MONDOWEISS: The Middle East peace process is going nowhere fast and interested parties are giving up on the U.S.