Barack Obama’s phantasmagoric world, where the choice of words defines reality
phantasmagoria /ˌfæntæzməˈɡɔːrɪə/, phantasmagory /fænˈtæzməɡərɪ/ n 1. a shifting medley of real or imagined figures, as in a dream 2. a sequence of pictures made to…
Middle East
The Vatican calls on Muslim leaders to condemn violence by jihadists in “the Islamic State”
The Vatical has called on Muslim religious leaders to denounce the crimes committed by the juhaddist so-called “Islamic State” (formerly known as ISIS) See: (1…
U.S. and other nations must establish a ceasefire in Gaza NOW
Developing Hamas has no right to attack Israel with indiscriminate rockets, or with commandos entering through tunnels. Israel has a right of self-defense under Article…
“Krystallnacht” in Mosul and the Islamic Caliphate
Developing Just as “Krystallnacht” (Chrystal Night), on November 9-10, 1938, signaled loudly to the World Hitler’s and Nazi Germany’s policy of persecution of the Jews…
Obama’s six crises and collapsing foreign policy: Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, and China’s actions in the East and South China Seas
Developing President Barack Obama now faces six simultaneous crises, amid the collapsing edifice of his foreign policy. They are: 1. Russia and the Ukraine Russia’s…
ISIS or ISIL? A telling tale of the primacy of words over actions in Obama’s foreign policy
President Barack Obama has been very careful to enunciate clearly the acronym of the terrorist organization whose forces have taken Mosul and have been rapidly…
U.S. sends military assistance to Iraq as Iran, violating U.N. sanctions, sends arms to Syria through Iraq
The United States has begun sending missiles and other military assistance to Iraq, maintaining radio silence on Iranian arms shipments to Syria through Iraq and…
The big picture in Egypt: The referendum on the draft constitution on January 14-15, and the government’s crackdown on demonstrators
What is going on in Egypt? The referendum on the draft constitution to be held on January 14-15, 2014 holds the promise of a transition…
Egypt: Final negotiations and votes in the “Committee of 50”, and its adoption of draft constitution
For an incisive analysis of the final negotiations and deliberations of the “Committee of 50” charged with with drafting Egypt’s new constitution, see “On the…
Text of draft Egyptian constitution in English and Arabic
The new draft constitution builds upon past achievements, and contains some notably progressive articles. It is being translated into English as quickly as possible. Articles…
Iran, Syria, and the nuclear question
(Developing story) Iran is within reach of achieving an expansion of its influence through solidifying an arc of Shia states or Shia-led states reaching from…
Obama, Putin and Syria: Commentary on the fallout from Obama’s backdown
(1) Jacques Schuster, “Meinung: Russland Garantiemacht aller Schurken in Nahost,” Die Welt, 19 September 2013. Im Syrien-Konflikt halten sich sieben Parteien für den Gewinner. Kann…
Obama, Putin and Syria: Commentary
Roger Cohen, “An Anchorless World,” New York Times, September 12, 2013. Laure Mandevill, “Syrie : Obama sort de la crise affaibli face à Poutine,” Le…
CBS News and PBS: Network of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, and PBS, give al-Assad megaphone for propaganda to oppose Obama—ON MONDAY!
What we should be seeing now, both on American television and television abroad, are programs which put in perspective the looming question of whether the…
Commentary on Syria and the response of the West
Latest News Reports and Commentary Aus Deutschland (1) Stefan Kornelius (Kommentar), Obama spürt die Kraft der zwei Mahlsteine, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 7. September 2013 (9:34 Uhr)….
Moral cowardice in Europe and elsewhere: Bad-faith arguments on Syria by Germany and other countries lacking the courage to act
(Developing article) Following are the statements and ways German and other European and world leaders use to disguise the moral cowardice of nations that give…
Obama’s failure to justify military action against Syria under international law, and its pernicious impact
President Barack Obama has so far failed to offer a well-developed justification under international law for taking military action against Syria. While not a “slam…
Next Steps: Obama, like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, must now take steps to deal with the Syrian crisis—ALL OF IT
The publication by the U.K. on August 29 of a summary of its legal justification for taking military action against Syria is a most welcome…
Fine intellectual distinctions involving the use of force are likely to fail in Syria
Developing story News reports suggest President Obama is tailoring military action against Syria to achieve the goal of deterring Bashar al-Assad from ever using chemical…
New strategy and accompanying military action needed in Syria; Justification under International Law
President Barack Obama’s strategy for dealing with Syria has demonstrably failed. That strategy consisted mainly in looking the other way, providing fitful and ineffectual covert…