Author: Imran

According to a “well-informed” source, Abbas was videotaped trying to  persuade Barak to continue the war on Gaza: Abbas Pressured to Quit over Report, Threatened with a Video Tape?! (Al Jazeera Magazine) “‘The problem is that the PSDs,’ an abbreviation … [for an] Iraqi slang … catchall term for contractors’ convoys,’ don’t understand that sovereignty…

Hamas calls the Goldstone report “an opportunity to expose Israel’s behavior,” and charges Abbas’ “smothering” of report is “embarrassing not just for Palestinians, but for everyone in the world who tried to help us attain justice” and threatens reconciliation: Palestinians Outraged Over Abbas Bowing to Israel, US (Christian Science Monitor) Palestinian Unity Deal in Jeopardy…

In domestic terrorism investigations, the FBI engages in a policy somewhere between cooperating with and intimidating Muslim community leaders: Probes Test Trust That Authorities Strove to Win From U.S. Muslims (Washington Post) Further illustrating that only the people suffer from government issued sanctions: Black Market Shows Iran Can Adapt to Sanctions (NY Times) “The extraordinary…

“If you look around, you see nothing but jobless people… A lot of people who join the Taliban are jobless, too. If you want to stop the fighting, don’t send us more troops; build us more factories”: A Protection or a Provocation? (Washington Post) As UN inspections go ahead as agreed upon … Nuclear Chief…

Viewed as a “constructive beginning”, does the quick start to negotiations indicate a major paradigm shift in American and/or Iranian foreign policy? Iran, Major Powers Reach Agreement On Series of Points (Washington Post) While taking exception to the implications of moral equivalence between the occupation and resistance to it, prime ministerial adviser Ahmad Yousef’s explanation…

Afghanis project their fears that a buildup of US troops will only strengthen Taliban resolve and deepen the conflict … Afghanistan’s people have advice for U.S (LA Times) … As Western forces still squabble amongst themselves about the August 20th election: Diplomat Is Fired in Clash Over Addressing Afghan Vote Fraud (Washington Post) As the…

Although the announced Qom facility puts Iran no closer to producing a hypothetical nuclear weapon … Keeping Iran Honest (Guardian) Fmr. UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter Warns Against “Politically Motivated Hype” on Iran Nuke Program (Democracynow) … The Obama administration has placed the burden of proof on Iran to demonstrate their ambition is to create…

“Do federal judges have the power to order detainees released into the United States?” The Meaning of Freedom (Washington Post) In refuting critics, Goldstone says that “a lack of accountability for war crimes committed in the Middle East had reached ‘crisis point’, undermining any hope for peace in the region“: UN Investigator Defends Gaza Report…

Storming a Jerusalem Mosque and leaving many worshipers wounded, Israel committed a clear”violation of the mosque’s sanctity” … Arab Officials Condemn Aqsa Raid (Al Jazeera) … meanwhile, B’Tselem charges that the Ofra Settlement violates even Israeli, let alone Intenrnational, law: Israel’s Theft of More Palestinian Land (Freedoms Phoenix) Most “examples of democratically-elected Islamists governing at…

As the US scorns Iran’s insistence that its nuclear program is for electrical and medical purposes and is in compliance with IAEA reporting requirements … Iran and United States on Collision Course Over Nuclear Plant (Guardian) Iran Tests Missiles Amid War Games (Al Jazeera) … Talabani challenges the effectiveness of sanctions and dismisses indications Iraq…