Author: Alejandro

Once again Americans detained by America must fight for habeus corpus … Iraq Detention Case Heads to High Court (Washington Post) … while an Iraqi collaborator with the Iraq mission gets spurned: Stalwart Service for U.S. in Iraq Is Not Enough to Gain Green Card (Washington Post) Iranian analysts point to recent elections as evidence…

Lack of security leaves Afghans vulnerable not only to the Taliban, but to what local residents see as the greater threat—criminal gangs: Afghan Doctors Protest New Security Threat: Gangs (Christian Science Monitor) Fed up with the coercion and bloody tactics, tribal groups begin turning on extremist militants, but disdain for the Pakistani government and America…

In a major political breakthrough for Iraq, legislation addressing Sunni concerns is passed: Iraqi Council Clears Key Legislation on Provincial Elections (Washington Post) Reuters correspondent Cynthia Johnston describes how she was harassed by Egyptian security forces while covering the beat on the Muslim Brotherhood: WITNESS: Chased Through The Nile Delta By A Blue Peugeot (Reuters/New…

Five years after the invasion, despite an uneven and fragile stability, Iraq still faces the threat of re-intensified sectarian warfare, rampant corruption, and the challenge of rebuilding without much of its professional middle class: Is Life for Iraqis Improving? (Christian Science Monitor) The US may end its attempts at politically isolating Hamas and allow it…

Political reconciliation necessary to stabilize Iraq is jeopardized even before the talks start; meanwhile, Iraq gets rocked by another sectarian bombing, killing at least 43 Shi’a: Iraq Reconciliation Talks Hit By Walkouts (Reuters/Washington Post) Bombing Kills 43 in Shiite Holy City in Iraq (New York Times) After Qatar takes a first step toward fully living…

Out of at least 16,000 soldiers deserting since the beginning of the Iraq War, more than 200 have fled to Canada to avoid a conflict that has harmed America’s power and life for Iraqis even harder… Beyond the Border of War (Washington Post) Iraq War’s Cost: Loss of U.S. Power, Prestige, Influence (McClatchy) 5 Years…

Islamic Law analyst Noah Feldman gives an overview of Shari’a and its potential mix with democracy: Why Shariah? (New York Times) Despite having an electoral mandate of the Palestinian people, and 64 percent of the Israeli public and a former Mossad head in favor direct talks, the US and Israeli government continue to snub Hamas:…

The death of Mosul’s Chaldean Archbishop is the most high profile example of the effects of lawlessness and sectarian violence endured by Iraq’s Christians … Kidnapped Iraqi Archbishop Is Dead (New York Times) Christians Besieged in Iraq (BBC) … while Qatar makes a strong symbolic act of Islamic tolerance opening its first Catholic Church, with…

Ousted PM Ismail Haniyeh offers truce with Israel and is willing to have the deployment of some Fatah troops in the Gaza Strip: Hamas Leader Haniyeh Offers Gaza Truce (Christian Science Monitor) GAO head says US continues to undermine itself in Iraq by unnecessarily footing the bill for much of its reconstruction and allowing money…

The US gains its second Muslim Congressman with the election of Andre Carson: 2nd Muslim Elected to Congress From Ind. (Reuters/Washington Post) Top US commander of military forces in the Middle East leaves his job due to publicized resistance to bombing Iran, while analysts posit Iran’s regional ascent and domestic strengthening of hardliners is largely…