Protestsfor a fifth day at the West Qurna oilfields near Basra, where as many as, including two , atmultiple .Demonstrators had been demanding jobs and better services at first, but theprotests ,and at least one person was killed on Monday. Now they are alsothat the police chief be fired, and the person who killed the demonstrator tocome forward.The protests have not greatly impacted oil production atthis or nearby oil fields, but demonstratorsa road leading to the Shalamja border crossing with Iran. Passage to theairport was also .Employees from Lukoil, ExxonMobil, and PetroChina were ,and...…Protestsfor a fifth day at the West Qurna oilfields near Basra, where as many as, including two , atmultiple .Demonstrators had been demanding jobs and better services at first, but theprotests ,and at least one person was killed on Monday. Now they are alsothat the police chief be fired, and the person who killed the demonstrator tocome forward.The protests have not greatly impacted oil production atthis or nearby oil fields, but demonstratorsa road leading to the Shalamja border crossing with Iran. Passage to theairport was also .Employees from Lukoil, ExxonMobil, and PetroChina were ,and...WW…

The Trump administration’s for the Palestine-Israel has, predictably, gone overlike a lead balloon. So it’s shifting gears. The Washington Post ,“With President Trump’s promised Middle East peace plan stalled, administrationofficials are focusing on improving conditions in the impoverished Gaza Strip– a move that could put political pressure on Palestinian leaders to come tothe negotiating table.”Don’t hold your breath.The “Deal of the Century” was dead on arrival because it was basedon the idea that Saudi Arabia and Egypt would “deliver the Palestinians”on the cheap in return for a more...…The Trump administration’s for the Palestine-Israel has, predictably, gone overlike a lead balloon. So it’s shifting gears. The Washington Post ,“With President Trump’s promised Middle East peace plan stalled, administrationofficials are focusing on improving conditions in the impoverished Gaza Strip– a move that could put political pressure on Palestinian leaders to come tothe negotiating table.”Don’t hold your breath.The “Deal of the Century” was dead on arrival because it was basedon the idea that Saudi Arabia and Egypt would “deliver the Palestinians”on the cheap in return for a more...WW…

President Trump stirred some controversy when he attended the G7 summit in France last weekend and suggested that Russia should rejoin the group. Trump’s critics in the mainstream media and intelligence community were quick to say his suggestion was a sign that he’s a "Russian asset" or "Putin’s puppet." The evidence for these accusations are nothing more than Trump’s words, a closer look at the President’s foreign policy makes it clear that he is no Russian asset.The G7 consists of Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Russia was kicked out the group, known as G8...…President Trump stirred some controversy when he attended the G7 summit in France last weekend and suggested that Russia should rejoin the group. Trump’s critics in the mainstream media and intelligence community were quick to say his suggestion was a sign that he’s a "Russian asset" or "Putin’s puppet." The evidence for these accusations are nothing more than Trump’s words, a closer look at the President’s foreign policy makes it clear that he is no Russian asset.The G7 consists of Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Russia was kicked out the group, known as G8...WW…

Remember Donald Trump’s magical toturn $200 billion in federal money… hey, presto!… into $1.5 trillion ininvestment in America’s aging, underfunded infrastructure (to which the AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers gave a in 2017)? Why should you, especially since that plan is now in the water in Congress and Americans know it? A recent MonmouthUniversity poll that55% of Americans think the president is not giving this country’s crumblinginfrastructure appropriate attention, while only 26% think he is.There is, however, a seldom-noted exception to this growing American reality.You already know...…Remember Donald Trump’s magical toturn $200 billion in federal money… hey, presto!… into $1.5 trillion ininvestment in America’s aging, underfunded infrastructure (to which the AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers gave a in 2017)? Why should you, especially since that plan is now in the water in Congress and Americans know it? A recent MonmouthUniversity poll that55% of Americans think the president is not giving this country’s crumblinginfrastructure appropriate attention, while only 26% think he is.There is, however, a seldom-noted exception to this growing American reality.You already know...WW…

The New Yorker staff writer Adam Entous revealed on June 18 that foursitting U.S. presidents beginning with Bill Clinton signed secret letters agreeingAccording to Entous,President Trump’s aides felt "blindsided" by Israeli ambassador RonDermer’s urgent demand to sign a fourth letter. Only a small number of "seniorAmerican officials" in the previous three administrations even knew aboutthe existence of such letters. Though said not to specifically mention Israel’sarsenal, Israeli leaders interpret the letters as binding American pledges notto publicly mention Israel’s nuclear weapons or...…The New Yorker staff writer Adam Entous revealed on June 18 that foursitting U.S. presidents beginning with Bill Clinton signed secret letters agreeingAccording to Entous,President Trump’s aides felt "blindsided" by Israeli ambassador RonDermer’s urgent demand to sign a fourth letter. Only a small number of "seniorAmerican officials" in the previous three administrations even knew aboutthe existence of such letters. Though said not to specifically mention Israel’sarsenal, Israeli leaders interpret the letters as binding American pledges notto publicly mention Israel’s nuclear weapons or...WW…

As tens of thousands gather at our southern border, roiling US politics, thequestion arises: why are so many of the asylum-seekers and migrants crossingthe border illegally from three Central American countries in particular: ElSalvador, Honduras, and Guatemala?To begin with, it’s no coincidence that these are the three “most invaded”countries south of the Rio Grande – that is, invaded by the United States andits proxies.The Reagan years saw the apex of US intervention in the region, with fear ofCommunist “infiltration” motivating massive US aid to local despots and right-wingdeath squads...…As tens of thousands gather at our southern border, roiling US politics, thequestion arises: why are so many of the asylum-seekers and migrants crossingthe border illegally from three Central American countries in particular: ElSalvador, Honduras, and Guatemala?To begin with, it’s no coincidence that these are the three “most invaded”countries south of the Rio Grande – that is, invaded by the United States andits proxies.The Reagan years saw the apex of US intervention in the region, with fear ofCommunist “infiltration” motivating massive US aid to local despots and right-wingdeath squads...WW…

The job and services protest entered its second week onSunday. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadito have saboteurs among the demonstrators shot, as hemore forces to the southern provinces.Overall, at least 14 people were killed and 366 wereinjured across Iraq:Security forces clashed with protesters attempting toa courthouse in Samawa, where they . At least ,90 of them security personnel.In Basra, a clash erupted between security forces andcivilians who were trying to enter a government building while demonstrating ata nearby oil field. was reported. The fighting alsoin clashes in...…The job and services protest entered its second week onSunday. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadito have saboteurs among the demonstrators shot, as hemore forces to the southern provinces.Overall, at least 14 people were killed and 366 wereinjured across Iraq:Security forces clashed with protesters attempting toa courthouse in Samawa, where they . At least ,90 of them security personnel.In Basra, a clash erupted between security forces andcivilians who were trying to enter a government building while demonstrating ata nearby oil field. was reported. The fighting alsoin clashes in...WW…

Overall, at least 10 people were killed across Iraq:during a security operation at Mount Qarachukh, near Makhmour.Several were .The number of militants killed was not released.A of his injuries in Karbala.In Mosul, a .in the Hamrin Mountains.on Monday but were tempered by arrests and unbearable heat. No new casualtieswere ,but one person died of injuries received on a previous day.A group claiming to be the leaders of the protests, the CoordinationBoard for Peaceful Protests and Demonstrations in Basra , on Monday.Unfortunately, a potential solution to one of thedemonstrator’s complaints,...…Overall, at least 10 people were killed across Iraq:during a security operation at Mount Qarachukh, near Makhmour.Several were .The number of militants killed was not released.A of his injuries in Karbala.In Mosul, a .in the Hamrin Mountains.on Monday but were tempered by arrests and unbearable heat. No new casualtieswere ,but one person died of injuries received on a previous day.A group claiming to be the leaders of the protests, the CoordinationBoard for Peaceful Protests and Demonstrations in Basra , on Monday.Unfortunately, a potential solution to one of thedemonstrator’s complaints,...WW…

The US military announced on Wednesday that it was investigating an air strike on a home near the northern city of Kunduz last week that reportedly killed 14 members of a single family, including eight women and three young children.Reuters Afghan officials confirmed the deaths, which resulted from July 19 combat operations conducted by Afghan forces backed by American air strikes. However, the officials said it was still unclear how the 14 relatives died. US military officials last week confirmed American warplanes bombed the area in support of Afghan forces but, as is usually the case,...…The US military announced on Wednesday that it was investigating an air strike on a home near the northern city of Kunduz last week that reportedly killed 14 members of a single family, including eight women and three young children.Reuters Afghan officials confirmed the deaths, which resulted from July 19 combat operations conducted by Afghan forces backed by American air strikes. However, the officials said it was still unclear how the 14 relatives died. US military officials last week confirmed American warplanes bombed the area in support of Afghan forces but, as is usually the case,...WW…

The United States has been quietly fundingand equipping elite paramilitary police units in El Salvador accused of extrajudiciallymurdering suspected gang members, according to a forthcoming United Nationsreport reviewed in advance .Beginning with George W. Bush in 2003,successive US administrations have provided tens of millions of dollars inaid for Salvadoran military and police in support of the government’s “ManoDura” (“Firm Hand”) security program, an aggressive campaign to combat out-of-controlgang violence in a country with one of the world’s highest homicide rates.“Mano Dura” aid...…The United States has been quietly fundingand equipping elite paramilitary police units in El Salvador accused of extrajudiciallymurdering suspected gang members, according to a forthcoming United Nationsreport reviewed in advance .Beginning with George W. Bush in 2003,successive US administrations have provided tens of millions of dollars inaid for Salvadoran military and police in support of the government’s “ManoDura” (“Firm Hand”) security program, an aggressive campaign to combat out-of-controlgang violence in a country with one of the world’s highest homicide rates.“Mano Dura” aid...WW…