Syria as Metaphor

by John Feffer The war in Syria is a nightmare. It’s a nightmare for all the civilians who suffer from constant aerial bombardment, who are trapped without food and medical assistance inside crumbling cities, who experience the retribution of either… Continue Reading

War, Peace, and Absurdity

by Tom Engelhardt Recently, sorting through a pile of old children’s books, I came across a volume, That Makes Me Mad!, which brought back memories. Written by Steve Kroll, a long-dead friend, it focused on the eternally frustrating everyday adventures… Continue Reading

Don’t Try to Imitate the Russians in Syria

by Paul R. Pillar Among the latest in the Washington Post editorial page’s unrelenting drumbeat of criticism on Syria—which often does not make clear exactly what the United States should be doing there, except that whatever it does should involve… Continue Reading

Azerbaijan: Dubbing Critics as “Islamic Extremists”

by Durna Safarova Authorities in Azerbaijan are trying to erase the line between legitimate dissent and religious extremism in an attempt to stifle criticism of their policies. An ongoing trial in the Baku suburb of Nardaran highlights the trend. The… Continue Reading