Reading Vasily Grossman’s ‘Stalingrad’ and ‘Life and Fate’

War heightens the kaleidoscope of temporality. That you might say is the premise of Grossman’s entire book. It is an effect of combat and of the proximity of death. There would be other such moments in World War II – Bagration, Normandy, and the Battle for Berlin come to mind. But perhaps never again, indeed… Read More Reading Vasily Grossman’s ‘Stalingrad’ and ‘Life and Fate’

Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices

The Ministry of Truth, Part 1: How the Prime Minister’s Office has ordered a systemic operation to discredit and ‘fix’ global rankings which show the government in bad light. And, to home-cook some charitable replacements. Shreegireesh Jalihal New Delhi: In Hyderabad’s Taj Deccan last year, Smriti Irani, then India’s Women and Child Development Minister, took… Read More Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices

Defending Dhankhar but eroding dignity of vice president

Jagdeep Dhankhar has eroded the stature of the position, which was once occupied by stalwarts like Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Zakir Hussain, Gopal Swarup Pathak, M Hidayatullah, and K R Narayanan Bharat Bhushan The fallout of the Opposition’s unprecedented move to bring a resolution for the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has undermined the dignity of the constitutional… Read More Defending Dhankhar but eroding dignity of vice president

‘In America we do not kill people in cold blood’ etc. But elsewhere…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A Massive Database of Evidence, Compiled by a Historian, Documents Israel’s War Crimes in Gaza My remarks at the Oxford Union debate President of Refugees International Condemns Biden Admin for Role in Gaza Israel’s war in Gaza amounts to genocide, Amnesty International report finds / Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing Rashid Khalidi: ‘Israel… Read More ‘In America we do not kill people in cold blood’ etc. But elsewhere…

Where is Syria headed?

Now, as the Arabic saying goes, the time has come for meditation after elation. Let us reflect on what has happened so far to try to foresee what the future may hold…. the hateful Assad regime was standing only thanks to two foreign occupations, out of the five foreign occupations across Syrian territory. Gilbert Achcar… Read More Where is Syria headed?

Supreme Court Takes Note of HC Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s Communal Speech at VHP Event

Supreme Court Takes Note of HC Judge Shekhar Yadav’s Communal Speech at VHP Event New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken note of reports about a communal speech delivered by an Allahabad high court judge at an event organised by the extremist Hindutva body, Vishva Hindu Parishad. The apex court announced in a press release that… Read More Supreme Court Takes Note of HC Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s Communal Speech at VHP Event

The Chris Hedges Report: The Fall of Assad & What it Means for The Mid East

The Fall of Assad & What it Means for The Mid East (w/ Alastair Crooke) | The Chris Hedges Report As Chris Hedges stated: “That [discourse by Crooke] was fascinating and brilliant.” Crooke provides insight that would benefit many Americans if they would only take the time to read and listen. I live in Boston… Read More The Chris Hedges Report: The Fall of Assad & What it Means for The Mid East

Syrians finally Won the Arab Spring; Can they avoid Pitfalls and Win Democracy?

Juan Cole Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Syrian Revolution of 2024 has succeeded in deposing the al-Assad dynasty, in power since 1970, throwing off the rule of the once mighty Syrian Socialist Baath Party, a feared and murderous one-party state. Rebel forces streamed into the capital, Damascus, Sunday morning, facing no significant resistance from government troops,… Read More Syrians finally Won the Arab Spring; Can they avoid Pitfalls and Win Democracy?

A Massive Database of Evidence, Compiled by a Historian, Documents Israel’s War Crimes in Gaza

NB: This is the most painful thing I have ever posted on Palestine, and is painful reading, but it needs to be circulated. It is to the credit of the Israeli historian that he has done this work. We can only bow our heads to the victims. DS A woman with a child is shot… Read More A Massive Database of Evidence, Compiled by a Historian, Documents Israel’s War Crimes in Gaza