ISIS Wants a Clash of the Civilizations: Let’s Not Give In ISIS Wants a Clash of the Civilizations: Let’s Not Give In
It’s a huge error to dignify these desert pirates as a “state” on which one might wage war as an equal.
France Should Stop Listening to Saudi Arabia on Syria France Should Stop Listening to Saudi Arabia on Syria
ISIS is the most urgent threat to the West stemming from the Syrian war and must be destroyed. Assad’s murderous dictatorship can be dealt with next.
Nov 15, 2015 / Juan Cole
Will Iran Abandon the Vienna Peace Talks on Syria? Will Iran Abandon the Vienna Peace Talks on Syria?
Its invitation was unprecedented—but Tehran’s attendance may fall victim to the regional proxy war with Saudi Arabia.
Nov 3, 2015 / Juan Cole
Turkey Has Its Own Ben Carson, and the Bad News Is That He’s Already President Turkey Has Its Own Ben Carson, and the Bad News Is That He’s Already President
With Syria’s civil war to its south and renewed conflict in Kurdistan, Turkey faces growing instability. But perhaps the greatest threat is a Putin-style autocracy.
Oct 29, 2015 / Juan Cole
How Putin Adopted Obama’s Way of War How Putin Adopted Obama’s Way of War
The spread of the Obama Doctrine of counterinsurgency signals a new and dangerous phase of contemporary warfare.
Oct 13, 2015 / Juan Cole
Pope Francis’ Endorsement of the Iran Deal Exposes Republican Hypocrisy Pope Francis’ Endorsement of the Iran Deal Exposes Republican Hypocrisy
If the GOP obsession with banning abortion is about life, why aren’t they celebrating the avoidance of war with Iran?
Sep 28, 2015 / Juan Cole
Iran Will Soon Be a Corporate Gold Mine—and for Once, the GOP Doesn’t Care Iran Will Soon Be a Corporate Gold Mine—and for Once, the GOP Doesn’t Care
With the easing of sanctions, countries are rushing to invest, but Republicans are still caught up in a paroxysm of Islamophobia.
Sep 21, 2015 / Juan Cole
Are Iran and Russia Risking Their Own Vietnam in Syria? Are Iran and Russia Risking Their Own Vietnam in Syria?
There are growing reports that Iranian troops, not just advisers, have joined Hezbollah in defending the Assad regime—backed by an increasing Russian military presence.
Sep 15, 2015 / Juan Cole
Yemen, the World’s Next Great Refugee Crisis Yemen, the World’s Next Great Refugee Crisis
As the civil war heats up amid intervention by the Gulf monarchies, thousands are fleeing every day.
Sep 9, 2015 / Juan Cole
Hawaii’s Governor Dumps Oil and Gas in Favor of 100 Percent Renewables Hawaii’s Governor Dumps Oil and Gas in Favor of 100 Percent Renewables
An unlikely partnership between Hawaii’s local government and the US military makes the island a leader in energy policy.
Aug 26, 2015 / Juan Cole