![YPG and US military](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/us-military-ypg-rtr-img.jpg)
Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States? Is Turkey’s War on Syrian Kurds Becoming a War on the United States?
President Erdogan seems to believe he can bully Trump into abandoning his allies in the fight against ISIS.
Apr 28, 2017 / Juan Cole
![Drought in Syria displaces millions](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/syria-drought-climate-rtr-img.jpg)
The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
If Trump and his cronies really cared about children killed by noxious gases, they wouldn’t be trying to spew ever more CO2 into the atmosphere.
Apr 18, 2017 / Juan Cole
![Cruise-Missile Strikes against Syria](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/US-Syria-Strike-tomahawk-rtr-img.jpg)
What Is It With US Presidents and Tomahawk Cruise-Missile Strikes? What Is It With US Presidents and Tomahawk Cruise-Missile Strikes?
Typically deployed symbolically by presidents facing domestic political troubles, they rarely have significant military effect.
Apr 7, 2017 / Juan Cole
![Yemeni refugees](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/yemen-refugees-rtr-img.jpg)
Trump’s Generals Are Considering a Wider War in Yemen Trump’s Generals Are Considering a Wider War in Yemen
A humanitarian crisis already threatens to starve millions. Deeper US involvement in the civil war will only make it far worse.
Apr 3, 2017 / Juan Cole
![Iraqi army in Mosul](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/iraq_mosul_ap_img.jpg)
If Trump Wants to Defeat ISIS, He’d Better Stop Alienating Muslims If Trump Wants to Defeat ISIS, He’d Better Stop Alienating Muslims
From the Salafi Muslims who beat the terrorists in Libya to the Shiite militias of Iraq, they are crucial allies in this fight.
![Mosul fight against ISIS](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Cole_Iraq_Mosul_AP_img.jpg)
Trump’s Muslim Ban Hurts US Troops and Helps Islamist Extremists Trump’s Muslim Ban Hurts US Troops and Helps Islamist Extremists
The president has enraged Middle Eastern allies who are carrying the brunt of the fight against ISIS.
Jan 30, 2017 / Juan Cole
![Rouhani](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Rouhani_Iran-Parliament_2016_ap_img.jpg)
Iran, Angered Over Obama’s Renewal of Sanctions, Braces for Trump Iran, Angered Over Obama’s Renewal of Sanctions, Braces for Trump
Nothing would please Tehran’s hard-liners more than for the new US president to push Iran back into confrontational mode.
Dec 5, 2016 / Juan Cole
![Donald Trump Iran](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Trump_Iran-Deal_2016_ap_img.jpg)
How Will Trump Reshape the Middle East? How Will Trump Reshape the Middle East?
If he follows through on his erratic statements, he could manage to alienate Russia, the Gulf monarchies, the EU, and Iran.
Nov 10, 2016 / Juan Cole
![Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Omar-Khayyam_Rubaiyat_2016_cc_img.jpg)
Did Medieval Muslims Invent Modern Secularism? Did Medieval Muslims Invent Modern Secularism?
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam was embraced by many Western intellectuals as an aid to their own secularization.
Nov 7, 2016 / Juan Cole
![Offensive to retake Mosul](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/mosul_retake_battle_ap_img.jpg)
Will the Reconquest of Mosul Lead to the Breakup of Iraq? Will the Reconquest of Mosul Lead to the Breakup of Iraq?
The Arab world is divided, often along sectarian lines, on what to expect.
Oct 31, 2016 / Juan Cole