Category Archives: Middle East

These women of Ukraine

Fierce Planet Posted on by

Here is the full video of Ukraine's women-warriors' address to Russians. I am so proud. pic.twitter.com/EOzS9YlU9W — Nika Melkozerova (@NikaMelkozerova) March 7, 2022 They remind me so much of the YPJ, the Women’s Defense Forces of the Syrian Kurds. Even though I am against war and against violence, I believe in the right of self-defense, and I have always admired the Kurdish project of Rojava and the Kurdish attempt to form a cooperative economy centered around the rights of women. As in Ukraine, the Kurds have had to use force of arms to keep nearby armies from killing them. The … Continue reading →

20 years of sorrow, here we are

Fierce Planet Posted on by

My heart has broken. Like most vets, I left part of me in AFG. Later we’ll debate the failures of last 20 yrs, but today our mission is clear: hold the airport as long as possible and get ALL U.S. citizens and as many Afghan partners out as we can. We will debate the rest later — Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) August 15, 2021 ETA: And listen to John Cole too.

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May they survive, and thrive

Fierce Planet Posted on by

Here’s a good explanation of Rojava, and why it was unique. Turkish attack on Syria endangers a remarkable democratic experiment by the Kurds …According to Turkish president Recep Erdogan, Turkey’s goal is to create a buffer zone separating Syria’s Kurds from the Turkish border. But his country’s attack will do much more than that. If successful, it will destroy the most full-fledged democracy the Middle East has yet to see…. The Kurds call their autonomous region in Syria “Rojava,” meaning “the land where the sun sets.”… Rojava would be an exceptional society almost anywhere. Rojava’s charter guarantees freedom of expression … Continue reading →

Sneering and gloating: moral values?

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Billboard Blitz to Blast Hollywood HUMAN EVENTS has learned that a billboard blitz “thanking” Hollywood for the reelection of President Bush will be unveiled early next week. The advertisements feature the faces of liberal Hollywood icons Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Affleck, Martin Sheen, Chevy Chase, Barbara Streisand, and Sean Penn, and offer thanks to Hollywood their help getting President Bush reelected…. Charming, aren’t they? So full of hatred and bile, I don’t believe Jesus would claim them. Link via No More Mr Nice Blog

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If Iran goes nuclear…

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A story today in the Christian Science Monitor implies that Bush is taking a softer approach to Iran. I’m not sure that’s believeable, but here it is: Yet Mr. Bush’s recent rhetoric on the topic has been nuanced – gone is the word “intolerable.” The shift may suggest two things: first, a realization that diplomatic options are limited, and second, a realization that Iran has tremendous means of influencing events in Iraq. The chances for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East grow enormously if Iran gets the bomb. An “overtly” nuclear Iran could result in a “large nuclear … Continue reading →

Iran agrees to stand down

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Under pressure from the United Nations and the European Union, Iran has agreed to halt its uranium enrichment program. The agreement will remain in place while talks with the EU continue. Iran has denied that the enrichment program was a front for building nuclear weapons, but it’s widely believed that they want to secure those weapons for themselves. Now the EU needs to figure out what package of enticements will bring the situation to a more permanent resolution. UPDATE: But apparently this article show that Jane’s Intelligence Digest thinks that Iran is just buying time until they have a fully … Continue reading →