Attacking Electricity Infrastructure Is a WarCrime—Why Iraq Was Ignored and Ukraine Is Not

International humanitarian law is unequivocal: deliberatelyattacking civilian objects indispensable to the survival of thecivilian population constitutes a war crime. Electricitygeneration and distribution systems fall squarely within thisprotection when they serve…

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To Suhaila

(To my friend Suhaila, whose steadfast principled standagainst injustice, and whose patience in defending theoppressed, defy description.)Suhaila, spare yourself blame and reproach—not every wise soul is granted understanding.You are not…

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Putin is Misguided

Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement, of 13 January 2019, (https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201901131071434981-netanyahu-israel-syria-attacks/) can only be read in the light of the continuous coordination between Israel and Russia, the last of which was reported as…

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When Shoigu Overrules Lavrov, Rules of Engagement May Change!

“Something good may come out of a bad incident”, so goes the Arab proverb. And so indeed the downing of the IL20 may mean to beleaguered Syria.

It is no secret that there has been continuous tension between the two ministries of defence and foreign affairs in Russia over the last five years’ policies in Syria. Only a negligent observer could have missed the different tone of, or even conflict in, the statements made by both sides on several occasions.

At the heart of the tension is a simple fact. Lavrov and his gang of Zionist sympathisers want to maintain the status quo of appeasing International Zionism in order for the latter to let Russia into the Club. On the other side Shoigu and his generals have the duty of seeing that the security of their men and the interests of Russia are secured. But those two objectives have turned out to be incompatible. You cannot appease International Zionism and at the same time protect Russian interests simply because the former is out to destroy, weaken or contain the latter. (more…)

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