Clifford D. May (Continuación)

MundoOriente Próximo

In Tehran last week, the 35th anniversary of Iran’s revolution was celebrated with chants of “Death to America” and the burning of American flags. Also on display were posters showing Iranian boots stomping on President Obama’s face.

Separate from the festivities, Iranian military commanders have been testing a “new long-range ballistic missile that can carry multiple warheads,” and threatening to send warships steaming toward America’s coastal waters. State television has aired simulated footage of Iran’s military attacking an American aircraft carrier and bombing Israeli cities.

Nevertheless, the Obama administration and most of the media have their story, and they’re sticking to it: Iranian “moderates,” they contend, are braving opposition from “hard-liners” in order to pursue a “diplomatic solution” that can lead to a historic “rapprochement.”…  Seguir leyendo »

ReflexionesIslam y Mundo ÁrabeInternacionalTerrorismo Internacional

In 2001, the monumental sixth-century Buddhas of Bamiyan were dynamited on orders from Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. The United States and other Western governments issued protests. Afghanistan's Islamist rulers shrugged them off.

This year, the tomb of the prophet Ezekiel, Al-Kifl, near Baghdad, is being desecrated. On the tomb are inscriptions in Hebrew and an ark in which a Torah was displayed centuries ago. Iraq's Antiquities and Heritage Authority, under pressure from Islamists, is erasing the Hebrew words, removing the Hebrew ornaments and planning to build a mosque on top of the grave.

So far, we're hearing protests from almost no one.…  Seguir leyendo »

MundoOriente Próximo

Este verano, los comandos de Hizbolá en el Líbano invadieron Israel donde mataron y secuestraron a soldados israelíes, desencadenando una guerra de 34 días. Durante ese conflicto, por el mundo entero se distribuyeron fotos y se afirmaba que eran de víctimas civiles libanesas. Pero las fotos de combatientes de Hizbolá, vivos o muertos, eran imposibles de encontrar.

Eso era porque los combatientes de Hizbolá no llevaban uniforme y se escondían entre la población civil del Líbano. Estas prácticas ilegales no fueron denunciadas en toda su extensión. Para los periodistas occidentales en el Líbano, habría sido difícil distinguir entre combatientes y civiles.…  Seguir leyendo »