War

It’s now been nearly a week since Saudi Arabia set the Muslim world on fire (both figuratively and literally) by executing prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

The Sheikh was a leading figure in the 2011 anti-government protests staged in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and when the House of Saud moved to silence a dissident voice once in for all last Saturday, demonstrators poured into the streets from Bahrain to Pakistan to decry the execution.

Suspected Islamic State militants waving the black flag of ISIS have stormed a hotel beach resort in the Egyptian city of Hurghada.  Three men waving black ISIS flags attacked the Bella Vista Hotel by the Red Sea with guns and knives. According to reports they opened fire at the entrance to the hotel. At least three tourists were stabbed by the attackers, who arrived at the resort by boat. The Express reports: .The assailants travelled by sea to carry out the shocking attack in the upmarket Bella Vista hotel which is popular with European tourists.

Don’t take sides in other people’s quarrels. Paul Pillar explains why the U.S. should resist the urge to pick a side in the latest dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Poland’s plans to stick Washington with a bigger NATO bill. Doug Bandow objects to demands for increased U.S. commitments in Europe.

African Union intervention in Burundi may do more harm than good. Nina Wilen examines the possible pitfalls of an AU intervention.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is an intelligent man who can get his views across in the simplest of manners, but it comes as at a price. He tweeted in less than 140 characters that the terror threat is high and warned people to get smart. People around the world have reviewed his latest tweet as a sign that the Republican hopeful might not be the right candidate for the U.S. presidency. Trump said on Thursday: “Man shot inside Paris police station. Just announced that terror threat is at highest level. Germany is a total mess-big crime.

A retired officer has revealed that a civilian containment FEMA camp is currently being set-up in California in preparation to imprison civilians en masse. These camps are going to be used to gather political dissidents and activists who speak out against the government. Currently, there are hundreds of FEMA camps across the US which are fully operational and ready to take in prisoners at any moment. They are staffed by full time guards and usually empty.