Nèdeem Elmahjoub's blog

Kurdish FSA commander loses his faction after refusing to fight

On hypocrisy and complicity The US is cutting some of the aids that gives to Egypt? Your tax dollars allow police brutality abroad

Labour and Class in Iran

" Zambia’s tourism minister Jean Kapata had a point when she suggested the reaction to Cecil’s slaying showed westerners care more about African animals than African humans." Since "Westerners" have the means (technology, economy, power, etc) to selectively save themselves, some people other and some animals why should they care about Africans? But that's not Morton's central theme in Humankind

The tone of the article, almost explicitly, makes it sound that the Qatari regime is a force of progress. In fact, both the Saudis and the Qatari are theocracies and part of the rentier economies of the Gulf Council and part of the international financial system of oppression and inequality and at the service of the big powers. The level of Qatari investment in London alone is staggering, including 95% of Shard the new skycraper and Canary Warf, not to speak of investment and donations to universities, etc Saudi Arabia's attempt at a Qatari coup backfired

In the New York Times, again. When the Harlem Renaissance Went to Communist Moscow

"Essentially bohemian"

Finally! For the first time ever, UK McDonald's workers are going on strike 

CIA Covert Operations and U.S. Interventions Since WWII (made before the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq)

Left-wing Perspectives on Political Islam (Free subscription may be required to access the article)

Toppling statues? Here is why Nelson's column should be next Note: We should also add another reactionary exploit by Horatio Nelson: In 1799  King Ferdinand was put back again on the throne of Naples, thanks to the English help and of Horatio Nelson, in particular, that had defeated in the Abukir battle the French fleet preventing France. Meanwhile, Russians are erecting statues of the grave digger of the Revolution

" We must teach them a lesson in free trade " — Her Majesty the Queen

American University of Beirut " Unlike old-fashioned missionaries toting textual material and a tradition of hermeneutics, AUB envisions a technocratic redemption.     It doesn’t value a life of ideas, but the drudgery of boldness, innovation, modernity, and other neoliberal buzzwords.     AUB is an offshore exemplar of U.S. capitalism." AUB Limited

Assessing Trotsky

"Last month in Germany, for example, lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage (and adoption) in a historic vote. The anti-Muslim populist party Alternative for Germany opposed the measure on ideological grounds, while all six Muslim members of parliament voted in support of the bill. Incidentally, Chancellor Angela Merkel, now widely seen as the pre-eminent guardian of western liberal values, voted against the bill." How the 'homophobic Muslim' became a populist bogeyman

"Britain has built a national myth on winning the Second World War, but it's distorting our politics"

A book review Southern Insurgency: The Coming of the Global Working Class

" I've seen people share a photo of a MLK statue with the caption "Martin Luther King was against gay marriage should we take down his statue?" For some reason it's disproportionately annoyed me so I need to spell out why it's a stupid question. Like I say, you people don't need to hear this I just have an abiding urge to say it. MLK's life's work was for justice.  He fought with every fiber of his being to right a world historic injustice knowing that he may well pay with his life - which he sadly did - but his contribution advanced his cause and allowed society to take real steps towards becoming a civilisation. The life's work of various Confederate generals whose statues are under threat was to defend and extend slavery. They were willing to see millions die to keep millions in horrific conditions. Unlike MLK they lost and their legacy of hate is ashes. People aren't advocating taking down those statues because they once said somethin

غزل المحلة: معقل الحركة العمالية المصرية