How Trump Is Using the London Attacks to Further His Agenda

FEATURING JUAN COLE – Just days before the UK elections, US president Donald Trump has wielded his Twitter account as a weapon once more, accusing London’s mayor Sadiq Khan of making a “pathetic excuse” for the attack that killed 7 people on London bridge last Saturday.

Mr. Khan has in turn questioned whether Trump should be received in London for a visit. The bridge attack came just days after a suicide bombing in Manchester at a concert where nearly 2 dozen people including children were killed.

Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is incumbent Prime Minister Theresa May’s main rival, is surging in the polls despite the deadly attacks. Amidst the rhetoric about terrorism and its funders, the issue at the heart of the election is how Britain exits from the EU after last year’s shocking “Brexit” vote.

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Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He has written several books including ‘The New Arabs: How the Wired and Global Youth of the Middle East Is Transforming It,’ and ‘Engaging the Muslim World.’ He has a column at Truthdig.com and his blog, Informed Comment, can be found at juancole.com.