Armed Conflicts

US Marine Afghanistan

The US Will Never Win the War in Afghanistan The US Will Never Win the War in Afghanistan

The military has no strategy for victory, merely a plan to avoid defeat.

May 16, 2017 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Tartus, Syria

In Tartous, Syria, Women Wear Black, Youth Are in Hiding, and Bitterness Grows In Tartous, Syria, Women Wear Black, Youth Are in Hiding, and Bitterness Grows

This Alawite city used to support the regime, but most now believe Assad cheated his own people by sending them into an endless, pointless war.

May 15, 2017 / Alimar Lazkani and Roy Gutman

Empire, Conquest, and the War America Forgot

Empire, Conquest, and the War America Forgot Empire, Conquest, and the War America Forgot

The historian William Hogeland talks about the first war the United States ever fought and the “problematic and thorny and painful” questions his new book raises.

May 15, 2017 / Interview / Richard Kreitner

US Forces YPG Arms

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

Trump and Kissinger

What Kissinger Can Teach Trump about Surviving an Impeachment What Kissinger Can Teach Trump about Surviving an Impeachment

It’s all showbiz—that’s how Henry escaped the Watergate dragnet.

May 11, 2017 / Greg Grandin

American troops on patrol in Afghanistan

Why Armed Conflicts Almost Never Achieve Their Stated Goals Why Armed Conflicts Almost Never Achieve Their Stated Goals

When it comes to war, less often accomplishes more.

May 11, 2017 / Danny Sjursen

Journalists Protest in Veracruz

Mexico’s ‘Drug War’ Is Really a War Against Journalists—Waged by the Government Mexico’s ‘Drug War’ Is Really a War Against Journalists—Waged by the Government

Washington-backed military and economic initiatives have fueled a perfect machine of perpetual war.

May 10, 2017 / Greg Grandin

South Korean President Moon Jae-in

South Korea’s New President Says His Election Completes the ‘Candlelight Revolution’ South Korea’s New President Says His Election Completes the ‘Candlelight Revolution’

In an exclusive interview, Moon Jae-in scoffs at reports of a rift with Trump and talks about his country’s past struggles for democracy.

May 10, 2017 / Tim Shorrock

Victory Day Ceremony

World War II Memories in Moscow, Another Cold War Inquisition in Washington World War II Memories in Moscow, Another Cold War Inquisition in Washington

On May 9, while Russia was commemorating the 27 million Soviet citizens who died fighting Nazi Germany, the US political-media class was vilifying the Kremlin and seeking its Ameri...

May 10, 2017 / Audio / Stephen F. Cohen

Saudi airstrike aftermath

Congress Is Drawing a ‘Red Line’ Over Trump’s Support for the Saudi War on Yemen Congress Is Drawing a ‘Red Line’ Over Trump’s Support for the Saudi War on Yemen

Millions are threatened by famine, as Riyadh prepares an assault on the country’s key port.

May 8, 2017 / James Carden

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