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
Egyptian President Sisi Is Ridiculed for ‘Selling’ Islands to Saudi Arabia Egyptian President Sisi Is Ridiculed for ‘Selling’ Islands to Saudi Arabia
Even members of the usually supine elite are horrified; the dictator’s move could provoke much more widespread opposition.
Apr 11, 2016 / Juan Cole
War Crimes and US Responsibility in Syria and Yemen War Crimes and US Responsibility in Syria and Yemen
Washington is giving substantial support to the Saudi-led war in Yemen, even helping to choose bombing targets.
Feb 18, 2016 / Juan Cole
Flint and Gaza: Water Crises of Colonialism Flint and Gaza: Water Crises of Colonialism
In both places, local people have been deprived of autonomy, and they face a severe public health crisis as a result.
Feb 3, 2016 / Juan Cole
Iran Is Open For Business. What Does This Mean for the Global Economy? Iran Is Open For Business. What Does This Mean for the Global Economy?
The country could put up to a million barrels of oil a day on the market.
Jan 19, 2016 / Juan Cole
Why the Saudi-Iranian Cold War Is Heating Up Why the Saudi-Iranian Cold War Is Heating Up
It’s not a religious struggle—though both sides deploy sectarianism as a recruiting tool.
Jan 6, 2016 / Juan Cole
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.
Nov 25, 2015 / Juan Cole
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