Chuck Spinney: Break Syria, Mali, Niger? Do We Really Want to Keep Making a Costly Mess?

NOVEMBER 12, 2012 An Era of Conflicts The New Political Map of the Middle East by PATRICK COCKBURN, Counterpunch http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/12/the-new-political-map-of-the-middle-east/ President Obama is lucky in his opponents, particularly when it comes to explaining why America’s influence is waning in the Middle East. The issue was hardly mentioned in the election, aside from a botched attempt …

Chuck Spinney – Cogent Analysis pf Arab Spring Seven Key Challenges Not Available from CIA or Department of State – Plus Personal Appeal for Contributions to Keep CounterPunch Going

Jeffrey St Claire, the editor at Counterpunch has given me permission to distribute the attached essay, “The Arab Spring at the Crossroads,” by  Esam Al-Amin.  It was published in the subscription edition of Counterpunch and is not available at the CP website.  Al-Amin, who I do not know, has written a very informative summary of …

Berto Jongman: Debka Alternative – Iranian Drone Big as a Helicopter, Captured Intact, Revealed Huge Gaps in Israeli Air Defenses

An alternative account. Israel & Iran at (Cyber) War  – How the “Beast of Kandahar” Was Looted by the “Mongrel of Tehran” Not quite an airplane, a helicopter or even a drone, the unmanned Iranian aerial vehicle that ambled into Israeli air space Saturday, Oct. 6 was one of oddest flying objects seen in international …

Berto Jongman: Syrian Classified Documents Leaked – False Flag?

Being read in Europe. Al Arabiya to air newly-leaked, highly-classified Syrian security documents A special news program showcasing newly-leaked and highly-classified Syrian security documents will be aired by Al Arabiya News Channel, the 24/7 free-to-air news and current affairs newscaster. These documents were obtained with the assistance of members in the Syrian opposition; which has …

Parag Khanna and Frank Jacobs: The New World – More Small Nations, New Economic Zones, High-Speed Rail, Singapore to Vladivostok to London — While the Americas Decline

The New World Frank Jacobs and Parag Khanna The New York Times Sunday Review, September 22, 2012 IT has been just over 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the last great additions to the world’s list of independent nations. As Russia’s satellite republics staggered onto the global stage, one could be …