If you'll permit me to put my head up my own hindparts for a second, I'd like to say something about the justifiable concern that the coverage of Friday's attack in Paris has dwarfed any coverage of Thursday's ISIS bombing in Beirut, or their bombing in Ankara in October, or their (probable?) involvement in the … Continue reading Why Paris gets more attention than everywhere else

Conditions in Burundi have taken a serious and rapid turn for the worse over the past several weeks, to the point where a total collapse into large-scale violence -- maybe even genocide -- would not be out of the question. To recap: Burundi's President, Pierre Nkurunziza announced back in April that he was planning to … Continue reading Burundi is in danger of collapse

First of all, here's something I didn't write last night, because sometimes I am an idiot: to all those who lost friends and loved ones last night, and the day before in Beirut, and everyday in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere; to Parisians, Beirutis, the French people, the Lebanese people, and everyone else whose lives have … Continue reading Don’t help ISIS get what it wants

If anybody has officially claimed responsibility for tonight's terror attacks in Paris, that hasn't been widely disseminated yet. ISIS-related social media accounts are reportedly celebrating the attacks, but that's not the same as claiming responsibility. When Wilayat Sinai (allegedly) brought down that Russian airliner a couple of weeks ago, they claimed responsibility for it pretty … Continue reading Some too-soon Paris thoughts

The AP is reporting that 26 people (expect that number to rise) have been killed in a series of terrorist attacks in Paris this evening. A shooting at the Bataclan Theater resulted in multiple deaths and may now have become a hostage situation (perhaps 60 hostages are being held), and there's also been another reported … Continue reading Terror attacks in Paris (Updated)

The Pentagon is "reasonably certain" (unofficial US sources are saying they're "99% sure") that Mohammed Emwazi, AKA "Jihadi John," AKA ISIS's chief beheader of Western hostages, was killed in a drone strike in Raqqa yesterday. I mention this only because it's all over cable news and the internet, and has been for much of the … Continue reading BREAKING: Man Probably Dead

Oh please, please, please... According to other Republicans, some in the party establishment are so desperate to change the dynamic that they are talking anew about drafting Romney — despite his insistence that he will not run again. Friends have mapped out a strategy for a late entry to pick up delegates and vie for … Continue reading Today in things I badly want but don’t deserve

This is still very much a developing story, but ISIS has claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing (which may actually have been intended as a triple suicide bombing, based on the latest evidence) today in the Beirut neighborhood of Burj al-Barajneh, which has killed at least 37 people and injured over 180 more: The … Continue reading ISIS hits Beirut

It's no secret that the American-led anti-ISIS coalition is planning an assault on the groups "capital," the Syrian city of Raqqa -- in fact, it's so unsecret that the US Secretary of Defense has talked openly about the plan in front of Congress. A force of mostly Kurds, along with a group of Arab fighters … Continue reading The assault on Raqqa is taking shape, in Iraq