Iran war fuels tensions in US Democratic primary races
The Straits Times
WASHINGTON, March 18 - The Iran war is influencing Democratic primaries ahead of November's midterm elections, with progressives faulting moderate rivals for not opposing President Donald Trump's bombing campaign strongly enough and for what they call overly close ties with defense contractors and Israel. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 18 - The Iran war is influencing Democratic primaries ahead of November's midterm elections, with progressives faulting moderate rivals for not opposing President Donald Trump's bombing campaign strongly enough and for what they call overly close ties with defense contractors and Israel.
The tensions are emerging in Democratic primaries for Senate and House seats in Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina, a Reuters review shows. At least half a dozen progressives are challenging establishment-backed or moderate rivals, arguing that donations to their opponents from defense contractors and pro-Israel groups undercut their opposition to the war.
These primary battles highlight a broader struggle inside the party over its future as it tries to rebuild after election losses in 2024 and starts to consider potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election.
For progressives, the U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran has sparked anew longstanding demands to end American-led wars and curb the influence of defense industry and billionaire donors, while shifting attention to economic fairness and equal rights at home.
Progressives have seized on the Iran war in speeches, media interviews, TV ads and fundraising appeals, accusing some of their opponents of taking donations from defense contractors and from groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful pro-Israel political lobbying group.
"It's difficult to trust politicians who take money from weapons manufacturers and AIPAC, all of whom are for this war, and for those politicians to then stand up and say they against the war," said Abdul El-Sayed, who is a Democratic primary candidate for a Senate seat in Michigan.
Malaysia has been identified as a hub for illegal ship to ship transfers of crude oil in recent years. Read more at straitstimes.com.
LONDON, March 18 - Five new cases of meningitis have been found in Kent in southeast England, Britain said on Wednesday, taking the total to 20 in what has been called an \"unprecedented\" outbreak that has already killed two young people. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MADRID, March 18 - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that the crisis in the Middle East would not distract from his country's support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia, as the two countries signed co-production agreements for battle material including drones, radar and missiles. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MOSCOW, March 18 - Russia on Wednesday condemned a strike near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant a day earlier which it said was just metres away from its reactor and called on the United States and Israel to stop attacking the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Iran has attempted to use its grip on the narrow Hormuz as leverage against overwhelming US and Israeli attacks. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ROME, March 18 - The damaged Russian liquefied natural gas tanker that has been adrift in the Mediterranean for the past two weeks has now entered Libyan search and rescue waters, Italy's civil protection agency said on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
STOCKHOLM, March 18 - A Swedish citizen was executed in Iran on Wednesday, Sweden's foreign minister said in a statement. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WARSAW, March 18 - A Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander B. should be extradited to Ukraine, where he is accused of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, his lawyer said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
COPENHAGEN, March 18 - The wealth tax on which Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is campaigning ahead of a March 24 election may appear modest: a 0.5% levy set at such a high threshold that barely 20,000 Danes - one in 300 residents - will pay it. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Analysts predict US drivers will face long-term pain at the pump, despite Trump's prediction of falling oil prices after the Iran crisis. Read more at straitstimes.com.
US officials said the warship was deployed to the region, without disclosing its destination or mission. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PARIS, March 18 - It is unreasonable to expect the Lebanese government to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah while the country is being bombed by Israel, France's special envoy for Lebanon said on Wednesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The Fishers have won more than US$8 billion in contracts from the Department of Homeland Security. Read more at straitstimes.com.