Turkey’s Great Terror Turkey’s Great Terror
Recep Erdogan has turned his country into a gulag state, branding millions of citizens as terrorists.
Aug 11, 2017 / Juan Cole
ISIS’s Days in Syria Are Numbered, but Does Trump Have More Wars to Fight There? ISIS’s Days in Syria Are Numbered, but Does Trump Have More Wars to Fight There?
Both Damascus and Ankara are afraid Washington may establish a long-term military base in the Syrian Kurdish northeast.
Aug 3, 2017 / Juan Cole
The Iran-US Drone War in Syria Could Quickly Spin Out of Control The Iran-US Drone War in Syria Could Quickly Spin Out of Control
The US attempt to control the Syria-Iraq border will prolong the bloody Syrian civil war.
Jun 21, 2017 / Juan Cole
US Arms Syrian Kurds—and Turkey’s Erdogan Cries ‘Terrorism’ Ahead of Trump Meeting US Arms Syrian Kurds—and Turkey’s Erdogan Cries ‘Terrorism’ Ahead of Trump Meeting
Ankara fears it will help the Kurds form a federal ethnic province in Syria, and thus give the Turkish Kurds ideas.
May 12, 2017 / Juan Cole
After Turkey’s Referendum, the Clampdown Continues—but Activists Pledge Resistance After Turkey’s Referendum, the Clampdown Continues—but Activists Pledge Resistance
“We do not consider these results legitimate and we don’t accept them,” says one opposition leader.
Apr 28, 2017 / Jesse Rosenfeld
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
Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East Why We Can’t Afford to Send More Troops to the Middle East
Pursuing such policies would all but hand victory to ISIS and other extremist groups.
Apr 18, 2017 / Danny Sjursen
Turkey’s Fateful Referendum: The Road to Dictatorship? Turkey’s Fateful Referendum: The Road to Dictatorship?
If it passes this Sunday, the country will adopt a presidential system, but without the checks and balances that constrain President Erdogan’s power.
Apr 12, 2017 / Umar Farooq
How the Syrian Civil War Has Transformed Hezbollah How the Syrian Civil War Has Transformed Hezbollah
The Lebanese Shiite militia, which has played a central role in defending the Assad regime, is now a powerful regional player.
Mar 30, 2017 / Jesse Rosenfeld
I Was Part of the Iraq War Surge. It Was a Disaster. I Was Part of the Iraq War Surge. It Was a Disaster.
The 2007 surge strategy wasn’t a success—and it’s not a template to follow.
Mar 9, 2017 / Danny Sjursen