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.
After five years of bloodletting, there is a glimmer of hope that the Syrians' long nightmare may end soon. A truce agreement was announced by Russia and the US today under which a ceasefire will go into effect in Syria on February 27. Humanitarian aid will be delivered to besieged towns and villages. The truce does not extend to such terrorist outfits as Daesh, Jabhat al Nusra, Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham.
The Saudi execution of Shaykh al-Nimr was bound to revoke strong reaction. This is precisely what the US wanted: to set the region on fire as it retreats so that nobody would be able to control it.
Attacks on Muslims and their institutions have risen alarmingly worldwide, especially in the US. Leading politicians and the media are front and centre of this vicious campaign.
The roots of the Da‘ish terrorists (aka ISIS/ISIL or takfiris) can be traced all the way to the American Zionist neo-cons’ agenda to secure the realm for their favorite country Israel.
1Peace in Afghanistan is vital for the region but there are players that want to disrupt it, especially members of the Afghan Northern Alliance because they believe such an outcome would diminish their influence and clout in the country.
What socio-political issues are likely to dominate the year 2016? ICIT director provides some pointers and food for thought.
There are some really scary reports coming out of Moscow about the downing of the Russian plane over the Sinai Peninsula. Two American mercenaries of Colombian origin have been captured by Russian Special Forces in Yemen. They are being flown to Moscow on orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin whose special envoy Mikhail Lesin was found dead in a Washington hotel on November 5. What's going on?
