Portside

With oil prices down and wealthy countries bungling COVID-19, the pandemic has exposed the weaknesses that wealth papers over. The relationship between wealth and favorable outcomes only works when that wealth is invested in the many, not the few.

Historic change is taking place in the Middle East and North Africa, but it has nothing to do with the much-trumpeted “historic” pact between Israel and the UAE. The 50-year misrule of the petrostates is ending and the results could be shattering.

Since 2011, Arab labor organizations and left parties have been central to movements for democracy and social justice in the Middle East. Frequently overlooked in Western media coverage...they’ve carried on this fight against tremendous odds.

Of course, if the United States and/or Israel join in, Iran will be hard pressed. But as belligerent as Bolton and the Israeli government are toward Iran, would they initiate or join a war? But we should take neocons like Bolton at their word.

The United States is now a direct participant in the war to bring down the Damascus regime, thus shedding any possibility that, along with Russia, it could act as a neutral force to bring the parties together.