Aidan Simardone
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Articles by Aidan Simardone
Supreme Court Rulings May Be ‘Based on Threats’ to Justices-Court Papers
A federal immigration class action has raised unusual questions about the security of the judiciary and the pressures surrounding high-profile cases involving President Donald Trump.
Le Mali tient bon : l’Occident regarde un nouveau front pour saboter l’indépendance du Sahel
La dernière obsession anti-russe de l'Occident dissimule un plan visant à compromettre la souveraineté et l'indépendance économique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest sous prétexte de lutter contre le terrorisme. L'obsession anti-russe de l'Occident masque un plan visant à saper la souveraineté de l'Afrique de l'Ouest sous prétexte de lutter contre l'extrémisme.
Mali holds firm: West eyes new front to sabotage Sahel independence
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Sudan’s Civil War Explained: UAE-Sponsored Counter-Revolution and Genocide
AfricaMiddle EastOp-EdSudan November 14, 2025 After the recent massacre in El Fasher, the eyes of the world have shifted to Sudan, but the conflict remains little-understood by outsiders. The country’s civil war, between the internationally recognized Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has directly killed over 150,000, displaced 10 million people, and starved half a million children to death.
Madagascar Erupts, Indian Ocean Power Dynamics In Flux
Above photo: The Cradle. With France ejected and its president in exile, Madagascar’s revolt opens the island to new suitors. And new conflicts, in a sea increasingly shaped by multipolar ambitions. After weeks of protests and a mutiny, former Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina boarded a French military plane and fled the country. With a public angry at a corrupt, western-aligned government, Madagascar has the potential to shape its future and the whole Indian Ocean.
Victorious Decolonization in the Work of Joyce Joumaa
Lebanese Canadian writer and visual artist Joyce Joumaa’s videos demonstrate that the colonized are not passive recipients of their condition. Aidan Simardone A soccer match plays on screen between Algeria and France. A man unloads his gun into a soldier. The game continues. A chase begins; French soldiers stop and frisk a senior citizen. Spectators flood the soccer field. The French are unable to control the Algerian crowd. The game comes to an end.
Eritrea breaks west's Red Sea chokehold, pivots to Iran, Russia, China
Eritrea, a small African state on the Red Sea, is coming under renewed western scrutiny. In January, Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) called for regime change in what he dubbed “the North Korea of Africa.” A similar Haaretz piece labelled Eritrea an Iranian proxy and a threat to the US. Israeli outlet Ynet even accused the Ansarallah-aligned forces in Yemen of expanding into Eritrea.
Diego Garcia: ethnically cleansed for US forever wars
Diego Garcia: ethnically cleansed for US forever wars By Aidan J. Simardone | The Cradle | April 18, 2025 US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to strike Iran unless it halts its nuclear program has revived interest in a long-standing American asset: Diego Garcia. B-2 stealth bombers have been deployed to the island – British territory in name but an American garrison in practice – suggesting that Washington is either preparing for war or raising the stakes with an aggressive bluff.
Greenland Is Not for Sale
In the lead-up to his inauguration, President Donald Trump identified a surprising priority: Greenland. Trump wants to purchase the island, which is an “autonomous” province of Denmark; take control of the Panama Canal; and annex Canada as part of his plan to make America great again. Detractors have called Trump crazy and deranged. But his […] Sorry, but this article is available to subscribers only. Please log in or become a subscriber. Password Login Email Code Google Account
What Does Project 2025 Want From Djibouti?
Project 2025, the alleged blueprint for President Trump, focuses only one African country: Djibouti. Smaller than West Virginia, Djibouti has a population of one million people and few natural resources. Nevertheless, Project 2025’s authors fret about “the U.S.’s deteriorating position in Djibouti.” Likewise, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed the need to work on “countering Chinese influence in Djibouti.” Djibouti is critical because of its location.
Why is Project 2025 concerned with Djibouti?
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Greenland Is Not for Sale
In the lead-up to his inauguration, President Donald Trump identified a surprising priority: Greenland. Trump wants to purchase the island, which is an “autonomous” province of Denmark; take control of the Panama Canal; and annex Canada as part of his plan to Make America Great Again. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Denmark, which claims that Greenland ultimately should decide on its own independence. Detractors have called Trump crazy and deranged.
Canadian Journalism Is Dying, But Poilievre May Kill It
Where We Are Journalism in Canada is at its lowest ebb in decades, as evidenced by the cancellation or pausing of several post-secondary programs in the subject due to the dismal job market. Postmedia Network, Canada’s largest newspaper chain by far, is 98 per cent owned by U.S. hedge funds and has had to sell assets and lay off workers to make payments on the hundreds of millions in company debt the vulture capitalists also hold.
Justin Trudeau’s Pivot to the Right on Immigration
When Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau was first elected in 2015, he embraced immigrants, literally. Images of the prime minister hugging refugees filled newsfeeds, a stark contrast to the border-building rhetoric of Donald Trump in the United States and deportation-happy Brexit leader Nigel Farage in the UK. While much of the rest of the West was closing its doors, Canada stood out by accepting more refugees. Nearly a decade later, the tone has shifted.
Canada's Conservative Leader and the Notwithstanding Clause: Threatening Human Rights
Speaking to the Canadian Police Association, Conservative Leader, and likely future Prime Minister, Pierre Poilievre called for consecutive sentences of violent offenders and restrictions on bail. Asked if doing so would violate the Charter, Poilievre said he would use “whatever tools the Constitution allows.” Poilievre was loudly hinting that he’ll use the notwithstanding clause, the section of the Charter that allows governments to opt out of constitutionally protected rights.
Armenia Has Erupted in Protest Over Border Adjustments
Last month, speaking before forty thousand protesters in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan called for Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. The protesters opposed Pashinyan’s decision to hand over four villages to Azerbaijan, Armenia’s foe, without any concessions in return. Pashinyan rose to power during the 2018 Armenian revolution, leading protests against President Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to seek a third term.
On the Legality of Iran's Attack
Last week, Iran sent a barrage of rockets and drones to Israel. Listening to Western leaders, one would believe Iran’s actions were unreasonable and unnecessary. It was a “reckless and dangerous escalation” according to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms” said President Joe Biden. While decrying Iran, Western leaders fail to condemn Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has killed over 34,000 people.
Erdoğan Is No Friend of Palestine
Amid the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stands out among world leaders for his bold remarks, including labeling Israel a terrorist state and demanding that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu be tried as a war criminal. For Palestinians, a Turkish shift away from Israel would be a significant development, considering Turkey’s stature as one of the largest countries in the Middle East.
Erdoğan Is No Friend of Palestine
Amid the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stands out among world leaders for his bold remarks, including labeling Israel a terrorist state and demanding that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu be tried as a war criminal. For Palestinians, a Turkish shift away from Israel would be a significant development, considering Turkey’s stature as one of the largest countries in the Middle East.
Israeli Weapons Are Common to the Displacement in Nagorno-Karabakh and Gaza
It comes as no surprise that Israeli weapons are driving the violence in Gaza. But it is less well known that a similar scenario has unfolded in Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh], a majority-Armenian region surrounded by Azerbaijan. Following a ten-month blockade, Azerbaijan, armed with weapons purchased from Israel, launched an attack on civilians in Artsakh. In just a few days in September, nearly the whole population of 120,000 faced ethnic cleansing.
Doble rasero - Brecha
Otra vez los armenios se enfrentan al exterminio. Hace un siglo, los otomanos los deportaron y masacraron en el genocidio armenio. Reducida a un pequeño Estado sin salida al mar del tamaño de Bélgica (equivalente a una sexta parte de Uruguay), Armenia ahora está inundada de bombas y disparos de su vecino oriental, Azerbaiyán. Con el apoyo occidental e israelí, Azerbaiyán está efectuando una limpieza étnica en el territorio armenio y dividiendo Armenia hasta que no quede nada.
Refugee Law Must Adapt to a World Where the Effects of Climate Change Rival Those of War
Recent footage of hundreds dead and thousands fleeing destruction depicts scenes that could have come from Ukraine or Sudan. But with a backdrop of burnt palm and pine trees, what we actually saw was climate change’s destruction in Maui, Hawaii and Yellowknife, Canada. In Maui people abandoned their cars and leapt into the ocean as the fire engulfed the coastal town of Lahaina.
Refugee Law Must Adapt to a World Where the Effects of Climate Change Rival Those of War
Recent footage of hundreds dead and thousands fleeing destruction depicts scenes that could have come from Ukraine or Sudan. But with a backdrop of burnt palm and pine trees, what we actually saw was climate change’s destruction in Maui, Hawaii and Yellowknife, Canada. In Maui people abandoned their cars and leapt into the ocean as the fire engulfed the coastal town of Lahaina.
The West’s Double Standards in the Armenian Crisis
Armenians are again facing extermination. A century ago, the Ottomans deported and massacred them in the Armenian Genocide. Reduced to a landlocked state smaller than Kentucky, Armenia is now inundated with bombs and gunfire from its eastern neighbor, Azerbaijan. With Western and Israeli support, Azerbaijan is cleansing Armenians from its territory and slicing up Armenia until nothing is left.
Armenia, Azerbaijan and another war at Europe's doorstep
War is at Europe's periphery. An authoritarian country seeks the destruction of its democratic neighbour. Occupation moves forward, albeit slowly. The army murders civilians without remorse. This could be Ukraine. But in this case, few Western countries have condemned the invasion. The targeted country receives little support. And the aggressor, rather than facing economic sanctions, is getting closer with the West.
Against AIdeology
A Marxist Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Whatever benefits we get from AI, it comes from workers, not so-called tech geniuses. Media portrays workers in the tech industry as high-paying and leisurely. But behind AI are wires and metals, assembled by some of the most exploited. OpenAI’s DALL-E, which generates images based on queries, uses a database of art, without providing compensation to the artists. To read this article, log in here or subscribe here.
The notwithstanding clause undermines Canada’s democracy
What good is a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that can be opted out of? The notwithstanding clause used to be a rarely used section of the Charter. But last year that changed — it became clear that it’s actually central to Canadian politics, and it will likely be used with increasing frequency in the years ahead. For the first time, two provinces successfully used the notwithstanding clause in the same year.
A Second Civil War?
The far-right love it, liberals dread it. Since the 2021 Capitol Attack a second American civil war has entered mainstream discussion. The far-right embraces it, an apocalypse that will birth a White ethno-state. Scared, liberals demand electoral and judicial reforms, or harken to the good ol’ days of Obama and Clinton, where neoliberal consensus kept politics civil. Socialists and Marxists dismiss the possibility of civil war.
Radio Free - Independent Media for People, Not Profits.
The far-right love it, liberals dread it. Since the 2021 Capitol Attack a second American civil war has entered mainstream discussion. The far-right embraces it, an apocalypse that will birth a White ethno-state. Scared, liberals demand electoral and judicial reforms, or harken to the good ol’ days of Obama and Clinton, where neoliberal consensus kept politics civil. Socialists and Marxists dismiss the possibility of civil war.
Femicide Shouldn’t Be Written Into The Criminal Code
In June, the police services board in London, Ont., passed a motion calling on the federal government to “define femicide in the Criminal Code.” As it stands, there’s no difference in a murder charge if the victim was targeted for being a woman.
Canada should use this moment to return Crown lands to Indigenous Peoples
Queen Elizabeth is dead, but the monarchy lives on in Canadian law. The monarchy remains Canada’s head of state: a formal role with real power. Working in immigration law, I cannot get through my day without the monarchy affecting my work. I see her in the upper right corner of my screen, watching my clicks and scrolls. “Honour the memory of Her Majesty” the government requests (demands?).
Police poised to be winners in Ontario election
When Doug Ford’s support collapsed last year, it was hard to imagine him back from the brink, poised to win another mandate. But Ontario’s conservative premier is now in the final stretch of his first re-election campaign—and he’s leading the polls. Unlike when he was vocally pro-police as a Toronto councilor, these days Ford’s praise for the police is toned down. But budgets show generous spending on police. Ford’s tone also shifted on racism, but little actually changed.
Another Budget, Another Opportunity Missed
The federal government tabled Budget 2022 in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon. While much anticipated, very little about this budget was left to speculation or surprise. In part because of the recent supply and confidence agreement between the Liberals and the federal NDP, many of the big ticket items were known well in advance. To a certain extent, this is a budget from a government in no rush.
As Refugee Law Practitioners, We Oppose Canada’s Double Standards
Cities aflame, schools bombed, civilians shot and killed — this is Ukraine. But it’s also Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and countless other places around the world. Yet while the devastation is the same, it isn’t treated as such. Where has the horror, outcry and response from the Canadian government been when it comes to those tragedies?
As Refugee Law Practitioners, We Oppose Canada’s Double Standards
Cities aflame, schools bombed, civilians shot and killed — this is Ukraine. But it’s also Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and countless other places around the world. Yet while the devastation is the same, it isn’t treated as such. Where has the horror, outcry and response from the Canadian government been when it comes to those tragedies?
Why New Zealand's "Smoking Ban" Is Harmful
Terminology: this article uses Māori names instead of settler ones. Aotearoa [pronounced au-tee-uh-row-uh] refers to “New Zealand” and pākehā [pronounced pah-kee-ah] to white people in Aotearoa. “Non-Māori” refers to both pākehā and racialized settlers. Aotearoa has “good” news. Like pagers and dial-up internet, smoking will be a thing of the past. The plan? Simple: ban cigarettes for future generations. Under proposed legislation, cigarette purchases would be illegal for anyone born after 2008.
Learning To Die From COVID-19
Most people agree that the government has needed to take measures throughout this pandemic to contain COVID-19. No one agrees that all of these measures should be permanent, nor is anyone proposing that they be.
Police Brutality Is Never Justified By Someone’s Behaviour
In the early morning of November 27 in downtown Quebec City, Pacifique Niyokwizera was beaten by police. They punched him and kicked snow in his face, leaving him with several broken blood vessels in his left eye. The assault on Niyokwizera, 18, may have never made headlines had it not been for the fact that it was recorded. Niyokwizera and his friends had just been inside the famous Grande Allée bar Dagobert. They were waiting for a ride when police hassled them to leave the street.
The Schizophrenia Coincidence
This past year strained our public lives. Grocery shopping was a labyrinth, with danger lurking around every corner. We danced on sidewalks, moving around others, afraid we’d be the next superspreader. But neither has private life been smooth. Even the friendliest families were on edge, lashing out under pandemic stress. Others were isolated with their thoughts, Netflix, and occasional news about a family member who died or lost a job. However the pandemic ends, family will remain a minefield.
Abolishing the monarchy would not end Canada's treaties with Indigenous peoples
Our head of state is in danger. No, Justin Trudeau does not have COVID. Rather, it is the Queen who is vulnerable. Previously, few Canadians -- only one quarter -- could even identify her as our head of state. But when Meghan Markle told Oprah that a member of the Royal Family worried her baby's skin would be too dark, Canada's monarchy came under scrutiny. Op-ed writers got busy.
Down with the Crown
Automated ads help us pay our journalists, servers, and team. Support us by becoming a member today to hide all automated ads: Become a member A billionaire interviewing two celebrities is not the type of news that should garner attention. But if the personal is political, then Oprah’s interview with Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, is telling. Discussing the intricacies of royal life, Markle described being driven to suicidal ideation and being silenced by the royal family.
Looking to India to Understand Race in America
With a knee pressed against his neck, he cried out “I can’t breathe,” Killed at the hands of a white police officer, George Floyd’s dying words would spark a revolution. Protests emerged in every American city. The movement became global, with people taking to the streets in England, Brazil, and Japan. As history would warn us, the movement was quickly co-opted.
Economic justice and the limits of the Charter
Queen Elizabeth II signs Canada’s constitutional proclamation in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 as Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau looks on. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become an important part of Canadian political life, but its limits are becoming painfully evident. The Charter is back. Ubiquitous as COVID, it is being invoked everywhere, from travel restrictions to curfews.
Beyond ‘trusting the experts’
Anti-lockdown protest in Trafalgar Square, London, September 26, 2020. Photo by Steve Eason/Flickr. If fascism is the socialism of fools, then COVID-19 “skepticism” is the criticism of the uncritical. Both share alienated followers, whose energies are directed against the oppressed. From them we witness the worst. With big industry’s assistance, Europe’s totalitarian leaders took advantage of economic anxiety to recruit followers in a genocidal campaign of industrialized murder.
The coup comes home
Fascism is imperialism brought home. No more evident was this than Trump supporters’ breach of the United States Capitol building on January 6 to stop the electoral count that would declare Joe Biden the president-elect. Among those were Ashli Babbitt—shot and killed—and Jake Angeli—the Viking horned “QAnon Shaman.” Shared between the tragic and farcical is militarism. Babbitt served 12 years in the Air Force, with four on active duty.
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