Lawrence of Arabia remains one of the most poignant films ever made. Although far from an historical documentary, it offers tremendous insights into the thinking behind the Arab Revolt (1916-18) and the administration of the post-Ottoman British mandates in the Arab world.
A particularly memorable line on the nature of war, states:
Neo-conservative stategist Robert Kagan speaks at a Brookings Institute event.
The Kagan family, America’s neoconservative aristocracy, has reemerged having recovered from the letdown over not gaining its expected influence from the election of Hillary Clinton and from its loss of official power at the start of the Trump presidency.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, checks a church damaged by militants during a visit to the Christian village of Maaloula, near Damascus, Syria. April 20, 2014. (Syrian Presidency via Facebook)
Syrian Rebel Fighters stand near U.S military vehicles on the outskirts of the Syrian town, Manbij, Syria, March 7, 2017. (Arab 24 via AP)
MINNEAPOLIS – As the Syrian conflict has dragged on for the better part of six years, foreign troops have continually played a major role in the fighting and in the conflict’s escalation, causing some to comment that Syria’s so-called civil war is really a proxy war between competing geopolitical interests.
The Battle of Berlin started on the 16th of April 1945. By then it was clear that Nazi Germany was a spent force and would lose the war. The Soviet Army won decisively in the final major battle in the European theatre of war on the 2nd of May 1945. On the 9th of May, Germany surrendered. This day remains the most important day in the Russian civic calendar.
But as the Soviet Army fought the last of the German fascist soldiers, the other allied forces, Britain, America and the Free French, were also racing towards Berlin.
Let’s be clear about something: Russia’s military is the only military that has been invited by Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government (the only recognized government in Syria and by the UN, last time I checked) and all other militaries present are there illegally and breaking international law.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad does not consider the presence of US military personnel in Syria helpful in the fight against ISIS.
Anti-Assad protesters burn a picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with ‘Corruption’ written across his face. (AP/Kostas Tsironis)
SYRIA — While the nearly seven-year-long sectarian “civil war” in Syria is widely believed to have started in 2011, revelations in recent years have shown that the sectarian war that has sunk Syria into chaos actually precedes the “official” start of the conflict.
Ba’athism can be viewed from two different perspectives: firstly by its objective virtues, and secondly by its opposition.
Ba’athism, as a political theory, combines Arab nationalism with socialist ideas, high quality secular education, a mixed economy, and a strong central government that oversees a secular society in which all religions are treated equally and worship is freely allowed.
(REPORT) — Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the politician who previously accused the U.S. of arming ISIS, is still calling on the U.S. government to stop its disastrous regime change policies in the Middle East.
French Presidential front runner Maine Le Pen has been stripped of her Parliamentary immunity by the EU Parliament. Although I do not believe the move will impede her progress in the French Presidential election, it could create an unneeded headache.
