Articles

Canadian writer and scholar Eric Walberg reviews two books that consider Barack Obama’s legacy as president. Eric Walberg considers the Obama legacy through the eyes of James Petras who wrote The End of the Republic and the Delusion of Empire (Clarity Press, 2016; 254pp., $24.95 pbk), and Jeremy Hammond, author of Obstacle to Peace: The US Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Worldview Publications, 2016; 538pp., $22.99 pbk).

Russian-Iranian relations form the backdrop of this review in which Western writers are found to lack understanding of other societies because they have little knowledge of local languages, culture or access to primary sources. Dmitry Shlapentokh, associate professor at Indiana State University, South Bend, Indiana, reviews Russia-Iran Relations Since the End of the Cold War by Eric D. Moore (Routledge, 2014; 242 pp., $8.84 hbk).

July’s failed coup attempt in Turkey has exposed more than the coup plotters. Turkish President Recept Tayip Erdogan has realized that Western rulers and Nato members are not his real friends. Russia and Iran are.

Letter writer Kamran Shaikh takes heart from the fact that more than 850 academics have signed an open letter to condemn Indian State crimes in Kashmir.

The Saudis were involved in the 911 attacks, says Julie Beckett from Los Angeles.

Haider Ali Khan comments on the recent attack on Quetta Civil Hospital which carries the fingerprints of Indian Intelligence Agency RAW.

ndia’s Caste system is an affront to human dignity, says Mehrunnisa Shamsi.

Tawfik Ahmed welcomes an end to the unipolar world and unilateralism in global affairs.

Muslims, especially those residing in non-Muslim majority countries, suffer endless confusion about important dates in the Islamic calendar such as the start and end of Ramadan and celebration of Eid al Adha because they do not pay adequate attention to the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah.

Is the West, especially the US waking up to Saudi Arabia's destructive influence in the world? This article reproduced from the New York Times, raises pertinent questions about Saudi role, funding and ideological support of extremism in the Muslim world. The photo shows Saudi-inspired ISIS takfiri terrorists executing prisoners.