Donald Trump’s stunning victory has left not only the American establishment but the rest of the world also shell-shocked. This is not how it was supposed to have worked out.
3One of the remarkable aspects of the American system is that people actually believe they have a say in how their president is elected. The media plays its role in pushing the establishment’s agenda to perpetuate the myth.
2For the first time during Barack Obama's presidency, the US Congress has overridden his veto of a bill. It relates to the Congress approving a bill that would allow families of 911 victims to sue Saudi Arabia and seek compensation for their losses. The Saudis are shell shocked and cannot believe what has happened despite spending tens of millions of dollars in lobbying efforts.
3In tandem with the US establishment dominated by the neo-cons, the US media has drummed up support for the latest war-mongering plans. The people have been scared into believing that there are takfiris sleeper cells in the US that pose serious danger to every American. Most Americans have been scared into supporting military aggression against countries in the Middle East.
July’s failed coup attempt in Turkey has exposed more than the coup plotters. Turkish President Recept Tayip Erdogan has realized that Western rulers and Nato members are not his real friends. Russia and Iran are.
The months of August and September highlight two anniversaries: the first, Hizbullah’s valiant resistance to Zionist aggression against Lebanon in 2006 and the second Islamic Iran’s eight year long epic defence of the Islamic State against the combined might of kufr emanating through Ba‘thist Iraq.
Russian-Iranian relations form the backdrop of this review in which Western writers are found to lack understanding of other societies because they have little knowledge of local languages, culture or access to primary sources. Dmitry Shlapentokh, associate professor at Indiana State University, South Bend, Indiana, reviews Russia-Iran Relations Since the End of the Cold War by Eric D. Moore (Routledge, 2014; 242 pp., $8.84 hbk).
July’s failed coup attempt in Turkey has exposed more than the coup plotters. Turkish President Recept Tayip Erdogan has realized that Western rulers and Nato members are not his real friends. Russia and Iran are.
Tawfik Ahmed welcomes an end to the unipolar world and unilateralism in global affairs.
Is the West, especially the US waking up to Saudi Arabia's destructive influence in the world? This article reproduced from the New York Times, raises pertinent questions about Saudi role, funding and ideological support of extremism in the Muslim world. The photo shows Saudi-inspired ISIS takfiri terrorists executing prisoners.
1There was always deep concern among some segments of the Iranian society that the West would not live up to its part of the bargain in the nuclear deal with Iran. A year after the deal was signed has confirmed the skeptics’ worst fears.
1Is there a difference between Hillary and Trump? Americans are caught between a rock and a hard place writes John Vanderbilt.
1More than 7,000 heavily armed police surrounded the Incirlik airbase in Adana, southwest Turkey amid speculation that it was meant to thwart another coup attempt. The police came with armored personnel carriers as well as dump trucks.
1The police in America can do no wrong even when they kill innocent people. Since the police investigate themselves, they destroy the evidence. In the unlikely event of a case going before the court, racist judges ensure police are exonerated. Not surprisingly, so many blacks have been killed in recent months. Black anger is understandable in view of such brutality. Even President Obama says the justice system is broken but is helpless to fix it.
1What kind of people would behead a 10-year-old boy in public and even film the gruesome act? If they happen to be Western-backed rebels, they would indulge in such crimes but they can rest easy that the Western corporate media would give this barbaric act a pass. CNN and Fox News did not report this horrific crime; the BBC gave it short shrift. Imagine if a group opposed to the West had indulged in such an act!
1While Islamic Iran continues to adhere to its obligations under the nuclear agreement with the six powers, the US is refusing to fulfill its obligations says Ali Akbarzadeh.
The world is becoming more exciting. Cyber warfare is heating up and many players are joining the fray. In the latest revelations, Iranian hackers have been hacking into American and Israeli military and political leaders' accounts. That should be exciting.
Peace in Syria requires the abandonment of unrealistic demands and a transparent political process to enable all the people to participate in it.
American presidential primaries are meant to entertain people and make them believe that they have a say in whom they choose to be their next president. With money being the primary decider of such races, it is not surprising the statement 'America has the best democracy money can buy' has stuck. This year's primaries are laced with angry rhetoric and racism. It is all very scary.
Will the February 22 agreement between Russia and the US outlining terms for cessation of hostilities bring peace to Syria? It offers a glimmer of hope but many uncertainties remain.
