Links to an article from Middle East Eye, to a report from the Associated Press, to an interview and a report from National Public Radio, and to an article from Foreign Affairs; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll down for today’s UKRAINE, GAZA, ALL OF IT and LEBANON, and for IRAN 8-9-26.) — MCM

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Why the Mecca Accord is a necessary show of force, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  It will be three years in October since Israel started its genocide in Gaza, a war crime it has repeated in the Occupied West Bank, South Lebanon, and Iran. For much of that time, Turkey and the Arab world held up their hands in horror but did nothing. Click HERE for article and two videos.

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Trump scoffs at Iran’s demand for war reparations and other Mideast developments. From AP. President Donald Trump today scoffed at Iran’s demand for reparations for devastation caused to the country by the U.S. and Israeli bombardment over the past five months — a demand he said Tehran’s negotiators hadn’t raised until now. Click HERE for report with video and photos. Click HERE for most of same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM AUG. 9  How Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ has shaped the war. Reported by Daniel Ofman, Rob Schmitz, Sarah Robbins and Henry Larson | NPR  Schmitz speaks with Peter Salisbury, professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and co-author of an article in Foreign Affairs. Click HERE to listen and read. Click HERE for Aug. 5 article in Foreign Affairs.

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Iran aims to put pressure on Trump amid negotiations with Oman over Strait of Hormuz. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Leila Fadel | NPR  As Iran works toward a final agreement with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, leaders there have a political incentive to drag out negotiations: their desire to put pressure on President Trump. Click HERE to listen and read.

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