Juan Cole

Ghost of Iraq Comes Back to Haunt US/UK Syria Plans

Ghost of Iraq Comes Back to Haunt US/UK Syria Plans

The heavy propaganda for an Iraq War waged by the Bush administration and the Blair government in 2002-2003 came back to haunt the Anglo-American alliance on Thursday when the British parliament voted 285 to 272 not to authorize a military strike on Syria.

JUAN COLE: The heavy propaganda for an Iraq War waged by Bush, Blair governments came back to haunt the alliance on Thursday when parliament voted not to authorize a military strike on Syria.

 Francis Matthew

Iraq 10 Years On: The Benefit of Hindsight

Iraq 10 Years On: The Benefit of Hindsight

The attempts by President George W. Bush to justify the American-led invasion of Iraq followed so many wildly different reasons with no coherent link that the liveliest of conspiracy theories have flourished. This has been fuelled by the obvious political failure that has caused no pain to Bush and his neo-conservative allies who launched the war, while the companies with links to those same neo-conservatives have taken a significant share in the billions spent in reconstructing Iraq.

In the aftermath of the terrible attack on the World Trade Centre on 9/11, the first reason given was that Saddam Hussain supported Al Qaida, although Saddam had been ruthless in suppressing Islamists. Then Bush and Blair used Saddam’s alleged plan to manufacture and prepare to use weapons of mass destruction. When eventually this reason […]

 Ramzy Baroud

Israel Bangs Drum for War: Why Follow?

Israel Bangs Drum for War: Why Follow?

RAMZY BAROUD: History repeats itself, when we fail to learn its lessons. Israel might want to take such chances, but why should the rest of the world?

 Steve Royston

Bahrain and Iran – Danger or Distraction?

Bahrain and Iran – Danger or Distraction?

STEVE ROYSTON: Should the Iranian threat – whether in terms of moral support or actual intervention – be one of Bahrain’s principal concerns?

 Mondoweiss

Palestinian Statehood and the UN Bid

Palestinian Statehood and the UN Bid

IRA GLUNTS, MONDOWEISS: Bibi is willing to negotiate anything, as long it does not include what the Palestinians want. In this case, it is recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN.

 Juan Cole

Libyan Conflict: People – It’s NOT About Oil…

Libyan Conflict: People – It’s NOT About Oil…

JUAN COLE: To suggest that the West has cooked up a war against Qaddafi to steal Libyan oil is to demean the bravery of the Libyan people.

 Jonathan Cook

Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing: The Case of Munther Fahmi

Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing: The Case of Munther Fahmi

JONATHAN COOK: “There is clearly a policy to push Palestinians out of Jerusalem to reduce what is called here the Palestinian demographic threat…”

 Steve Royston

Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?

Should the British Be Sorry For Past Mistakes?

STEVE ROYSTON: If by expressing disapproval of past wrong-doings we are saying we will not condone such acts now, is that apology not worth making?