Israel to Halt Payments to Palestinians

As Palestinians swore in their Hamas-dominated parliament, Israel froze contact with the “terrorist” group, and stopped a planned transfer of funds.
Hamas dismissed the effect of the sanctions, and former President Jimmy Carter warns in an Op-Ed that America risks severe consequences if it conspires with Israel to disrupt the transfer of power to Hamas.

Posted on Feb 20, 2006 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS

Anti-American Cleric Rising as Iraqi Kingmaker

Moqtada al-Sadr, who led two deadly uprisings against American troops, now controls enough seats in the Iraqi parliament to be a puppet master. Read the New York Times profile, or check out Truthdig’s Robert Scheer on the ominous implications of Sadr’s ascendancy.

Posted on Feb 16, 2006 READ MORE  |  2 COMMENTS

Iraqi Shiites Nominate Jafari as Prime Minister

The largely ineffectual interim leader is now set to take formal control of the country. He is backed by theocratic Shiites in Iran and the rabidly anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr in Iraq. A theocratic state, virulently hostile to U.S. interests? Right now Ahmad Chalabi is almost starting to look good in comparison. | story

Posted on Feb 12, 2006 READ MORE

Sweden Plans to Be World’s First Oil-Free Economy

The progressive European enclave has set a 15-year limit on its switch to renewable energy. | story
Hey, they won’t even have to get on a plane to collect their Nobel Prize!

Posted on Feb 8, 2006 READ MORE

Hamas Sweeps Palestinian Elections

With America sticking its guns in the eyes of so many Arabs, is it any wonder that Muslim hard-liners have gained so much popular support? Do we need any further proof of the neocon fallacy of Rumsfeld-style shake-n-bake democracy? | story
And with right-wing pretenders lingering over Sharon’s deathbed, have prospects for peace in the Mideast ever looked more distant?

Posted on Jan 25, 2006 READ MORE  |  1 COMMENT

Iraqi Voting Tally Deals Deathblow to Neocon Fantasies

The parliamentary results are confirmed: Shiites will dominate both the Sunnis and the Kurds in Iraq. So while the U.S. tries to intimidate Iran over its nukes, Iranian-bred theocratic Shiites—those most hostile to our interests—are in the ascendancy in Iraq. So much for the neocons’ “Field of Dreams” scenario for creating democracy in Iraq: “If you break it, they will come.” | story

• Also, read Juan Cole on how Bush created a theocracy in Iraq. | column


• And read Robert Scheer on Iran’s victory in Iraq. | item

Update: A former Pentagon analyst is sentenced to 12 years-plus for leaking confidential documents in an attempt to get the U.S. to take the threat of Iran more seriously. | story
Update No. 2: Iran and Iraq are already linking arms on the construction of electricity facilities.

Posted on Jan 20, 2006 READ MORE