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
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
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
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
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
Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Is a Horror Movie—and the Monster Is Our National Security State Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Is a Horror Movie—and the Monster Is Our National Security State
For Trump to have these instruments of power would be a catastrophe.
Sep 19, 2016 / Juan Cole
What Should We Take Away from Turkey’s Almost-Coup? What Should We Take Away from Turkey’s Almost-Coup?
The attempted military coup in Turkey is sure to reverberate beyond its borders, leaving the United States and its NATO allies with decisions to make.
Jul 19, 2016 / Juan Cole
The Istanbul Terror Attack May Force a Reckoning in Turkey’s Foreign Policy The Istanbul Terror Attack May Force a Reckoning in Turkey’s Foreign Policy
Ankara has already patched up relations with Israel and Russia—and Washington could be next.
Jul 6, 2016 / Juan Cole
When Donald Trump Says His Foreign Policy Is ‘America First’—What Exactly Does He Mean? When Donald Trump Says His Foreign Policy Is ‘America First’—What Exactly Does He Mean?
Four experts consider how exactly Trump might go about making America great again.
May 24, 2016 / Sherle R. Schwenninger, Heather Hurlburt, Stephen Kinzer, and Juan Cole
Why Is Washington Supporting Fundamentalist Jihadis in Syria? Why Is Washington Supporting Fundamentalist Jihadis in Syria?
A CIA-backed rebel group has joined with Al Qaeda in attacking another rebel force—the one leading negotiations in Geneva.
May 16, 2016 / Juan Cole