“Do you lack the knowledge to answer my question [whether ExxonMobil lobbied against US sanctions on Russia, ed], or are you refusing to do so?” Senator Kaine asked. Tillerson responded, “A little of both,” a fitting summary of his entire appearance Wednesday. Rex Tillerson at his Senate Confirmation hearing, Rolling Stone “As far as the […]
“America and Israel will enjoy unprecedented military and strategic cooperation, and there will be no daylight between the two countries” (Jerusalem Post). This was David Friedman’s summary of the election programme of then presidential candidate Donald Trump, at the end of October 2016. At that point, 57-year old Friedman had not only been Donald Trump’s […]
“I consider the deterrent to be critical because we don’t ever want those weapons used. So either the deterrent is safe and secure, it is compelling, or we actually open the door for something worse, whether it be a technical accident or political accident. So to me it’s an absolute priority.” Senate Armed Services Committee […]
Just two months ago, it was hard to imagine – on Friday, 20 January, a man who shattered the mould for how to become president will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. As Donald Trump’s nominees for cabinet positions make their way through Senate confirmation hearings, we here at PAX are […]
“The most important thing we want is safety. To be safe, so we can be comfortable. These are the most important two things we want.” Um Marwan (41) is the mother of 5 adult children. Her oldest son and daughter are married and raising families in Kirkuk. Five years ago, Um Marwan divorced her husband […]
Not really. We lost a school called Hope in Aleppo. Three hundred and three children used to go there. We have been working on education in Aleppo for four years now, obsessed with the details. First we wrote down everything that happened to us while we were kids – being made to shout slogans for […]
“I’m OK,” I tell my friend from the Netherlands. I understand why he is surprised to hear that. As a Syrian, even I don’t think I should be OK after all that has happened in Eastern Aleppo, my hometown. Many Syrians have developed this resilience of feelings. Sorry, but we’re tired of crying and grieving […]
I opened my Facebook page and scrolled through my newsfeed. The screen is filled by news about Donald Trump, next to the horror in Aleppo. I feel powerless, like so many thousands. Like so many thousands of people in Aleppo. ‘Hey! How’s it going? I hope you’re alright. It looks like the world has forgotten […]
Taim may have fled to the Netherlands, but he is having trouble leaving Aleppo behind. He is in contact nearly every day with friends and family in the besieged city. Taim is restless. Worried. The only thing that calms him down are the brief chats he has with those he left behind. Paradoxically, his friends […]
Teachers at a primary school here in the Netherlands raised some money a few weeks ago for the kids at the Mustafa Qarman school in Aleppo. They wanted to give the kids in Aleppo the chance to celebrate the holiday of Saint Martin, a Halloween-like tradition in which Dutch kids go door to door asking […]