Nina Zeelen

From the Rubble of the U.S. War in Iraq, Iran Built a New Order The chaos unleashed by the U.S. invasion allowed Iran to gain a level of influence in Iraq that was unfathomable during the reign of Saddam.

“The chaos unleashed by the U.S. invasion allowed Iran to gain a level of influence in Iraq that was unfathomable during the reign of Saddam. Secret documents from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, give an unprecedented picture of how deeply present-day Iraq is under Iranian influence.” (2019)

The ‘axis of evil’ playbook

After Maduro’s capture, Rubio links operation to fight against Iran and Hezbollah US secretary of state says Washington will ensure Venezuela can 'no longer cozy up to Hezbollah and Iran,' but insists operation differs from past Mideast military interventions

The Evil Empire Playbook

"Rubio said the mission is also about ending Iranian & Hezbollah activity inside 🇻🇪. 'The 🇺🇸 will exert leverage on the 🇻🇪 oil sector, to ensure the country 'no longer cozy up to Hezbollah & Iran. No more using the oil industry to enrich our adversaries around.'"

From evil to upheaval and beyond: How the ‘axis’ metaphor shaped modern geopolitics Using ‘axis’ to describe a grouping of countries tends to link them to a sordid past – but not always.

“Iran, Iraq & N-Korea – had little in common. Yet by linking them under an ominous label, Bush transformed separate challengers into a unified menace. The phrase ‘axis of evil’ was never meant to map reality; it was meant to shape it by fusing disparate adversaries into a moral & strategic category”

Saddam Hussein’s secret tapes: Author reveals never-before known details about the Iraqi dictator | CNN Steve Coll, author of “The Achilles Trap,” talks to Christiane Amanpour about what Saddam Hussein misunderstood about America ahead of the 2003 invasion.

@camanpour.bsky.social: “In his landmark book The Achilles Trap, Steve Coll uncovers the untold story about how Saddam Hussein & multiple US administrations misunderstood each other time and again. It’s a fascinating examination of how human folly and a litany of wrong assumptions can lead to war.”

Van een pluriforme NPO blijft steeds minder over - Joop - BNNVARA Opinie René Romer: 'Wie deze zomer de NPO opzet, lijkt soms wel in een Nederlandse variant van Fox News te zijn beland'.

“Mijn moeder is een belezen vrouw, maar toen ik haar afgelopen weekend vertelde dat Iran géén, maar Israël wél nucleaire wapens heeft, keek ze me vol ongeloof aan. Had zij dan sinds Israëls aanvallen op Iran niet precies het omgekeerde gehoord? Zie hier wat er gebeurt als je elke dag naar NPO kijkt”

Rutte's War on Reality

Donald Rumsfeld Was a Monster Only Washington Could Create In a decades-long political career, Donald Rumsfeld was known for two things: covering his own ass and having few real political principles. Relentless warmongering powered his rise to the top in Wash...

Carnage

"By 2018 15K Americans had lost their lives in these two wars, making Rumsfeld responsible for five times the number of Americans killed in the terrorist attacks that had justified the wars. The war resulted in the rise of ISIS, fueling the problem Rumsfeld had claimed to want to fight."

Donald Trump’s Worst Deal The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Trump 🤝🏻 Ali Khamenei

“The President helped build a hotel in Azerbaijan that appears to be a corrupt operation engineered by oligarchs tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.” (2017)

Loving the people who say this bombing is all about liberating the wonderful freedom-living people of Iran…but who 5 seconds later will support a ban on taking any of those same Iranians as refugees on the basis that they are all violent terrorist Muslim fundamentalists.

Mario Draghi : comment changer la trajectoire de notre continent Entre Gaza et Trump, dans un été marqué par l’inaction de l’Europe, le doute s’installe. En établissant un diagnostic sévère, Mario Draghi montre qu’il est possible d’agir — et d’espérer. Nous publ...

"For years, with its 450 million consumers, the Union believed that its economic dimension was accompanied by geopolitical power and influence in international trade relations.

This year will be remembered as the year in which this illusion dissipated."

legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2025/08/2...

Common argument in 2003 was that opposing destruction of Iraq was de facto support for Saddam Hussein. Now, opposing bombing of Iran framed as de facto support for Islamic theocracy. These are cheap, lazy, intellectually juvenile arguments. Ignore them. We were right about Iraq.

Lea Ypi: How to think about surveillance A picture of her grandmother posted on social media sent the author to the archives of Albania’s former security services — and raised difficult questions about who watches us today

Lea Ypi here how to think about surveillance - a beautifully written essay www.ft.com/content/9e73...

10)
Roemer: "Onvrede uiten op de juiste plek."
Hagens: "Is dat niet een te makkelijk antwoord?"
Roemer: "We zijn al 15 jaar bezig met militair ingrijpen in het MO."
Hagens: "U kunt de geopolitiek erbij halen, maar ik wil een antwoord op de peilingen. De PvdA verliest 28 zetels, u krijgt er 2 bij."

Trump’s Iran buildup, briefly explained Is the US really about to attack Iran?

“The US is in the midst of its largest military buildup in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, with one aircraft carrier group already on station and another, led by the USS Gerald Ford, on the way.”

How Israel’s domestic crises and Netanyahu’s aim to project power are reshaping the Middle East Israel’s military actions —in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and now Iran — reflect the melding of Benjamin Netanyahu’s domestic political survival and his revisionist aims to reshape the regional order.

“Netanyahu asserted in 1993 'the only peace that will endure is the peace of deterrence.' This policy advocates the emasculation of regional challengers. To move beyond containment toward strategic dismantlement of the Iranian regime’s power and to erode its ability to control its own territory."

Netanyahu is prepared to escalate in the Middle East He sees an opportunity to advance Israel’s interests in the region and to cement his position at home

Former MI6 Chief John Sawers: "Netanyahu is revealing his priorities and his strategy. He is prepared to escalate tensions in the region as he sees an opportunity to entrench his political leadership in Jerusalem. Netanyahu wants to help Donald Trump return to the White House." (5 aug 2024)

The US Destroyed Iranian Democracy to Uphold British Imperialism Seventy years ago this week, the US and the UK overthrew the Iranian leader Mohammad Mossadegh, who had fought back against British imperialism by nationalizing the oil company now known as BP. The UK...

In 1953, a CIA-MI6–orchestrated coup overthrew Iran's first elected leader, PM Mohammad Mossadegh, in response to his decision to nationalize the country's highly lucrative oil industry.

Smullen natuurlijk. Verplicht media en politici wel om Cidi M. niet als gewone politicus te behandelen. #Markuszower komt 'meerdere malen nadelig voor in systemen AIVD’. Had ‘regelmatig’ en ‘actueel’ contacten die inlichtingendienst als ‘ernstig’ beoordeelt.

www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/hoe...

De trouwe hulptroepen van Mark Rutte Mark Rutte is sinds zes maanden premier. Zijn nieuwe positie heeft gevolgen gehad voor zijn entourage. Een overzicht van de wisselende kongsi’s van een man die veel netwerken onderhoudt , maar zich ni...

Ruttes entourage

"Ruttes vertrouwelingen Blok en Hermans. De premier organiseert 'luistersessies' op het Catshuis. Zijn vriendenkring omvat, Verwaayen en Kelder, Petersen, Burgmans (Unilever) en John de Mol kwamen al bij Rutte over de vloer toen hij fractievoorzitter was. Net als Van Zadelhoff."

Waarom Mark Rutte een nacht logeert in een wisselwoning in Groningen

“Als schrijvend journalist blijkt het lastig om het bezoek te volgen. Bijna alle programmaonderdelen zijn exclusief toegankelijk voor ‘visuele media’. De beelden doen ertoe, Rutte die niet achter zijn bureau in het Torentje blijft zitten, wachtend op de Navo, maar het land in trekt, naar Groningen.”

VVD backing Trump

Mede door de fusie op links is bij D66 de afweging gemaakt dat het maar beter bij het (centrum)rechtse peleton aansluiting kan vinden. Aansluiting had men al, maar nu wordt nog net niet tegen het achterwiel van de VVD aangereden.

VVD-senator Koen Petersen gelooft Trump op zijn blauwe ogen.

The facts suggest two interpretive frameworks for Iran: a foreign war as a mechanism to destroy democracy at home; and a foreign war as an element of personal corruption by the president of the U.S.
Join my live conversation with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social, 12:00pm ET, snyder.substack.com

Vrijheid? De vrijheid om consument te zijn, wordt daar vooral mee bedoeld

‘Een samenleving die claimt dat ze mensen in staat stelt hun capaciteiten te benutten, maar die er niet in slaagt structuren te veranderen die verhinderen dat iederéén tot ontplooiing komt, is ook repressief.’
Citeert @sheilas.blsky.social Lea Ypi uit Albanië.

www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...

Afgelopen zondag reed ik in het donker naar Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld, dat leverde dit beeld op. Bij @ovt-vpro.bsky.social besprak ik Fortuyn: OnHollands en Onwaardig van Lea Ypi. Tussen die twee zitten meer raakvlakken dan je denkt. Terugluisteren kan hier: www.nporadio1.nl/fragmenten/o...