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
The Crucial Role of Islam in the French Election The Crucial Role of Islam in the French Election
A solid majority of French Muslims, about half of whom identify as secular, continued to support the left this year.
May 8, 2017 / Juan Cole
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
The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions The Other Poison Gas Killing Syrians: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
If Trump and his cronies really cared about children killed by noxious gases, they wouldn’t be trying to spew ever more CO2 into the atmosphere.
Apr 18, 2017 / Juan Cole
What Is It With US Presidents and Tomahawk Cruise-Missile Strikes? What Is It With US Presidents and Tomahawk Cruise-Missile Strikes?
Typically deployed symbolically by presidents facing domestic political troubles, they rarely have significant military effect.
Apr 7, 2017 / Juan Cole
Trump’s Generals Are Considering a Wider War in Yemen Trump’s Generals Are Considering a Wider War in Yemen
A humanitarian crisis already threatens to starve millions. Deeper US involvement in the civil war will only make it far worse.
Apr 3, 2017 / Juan Cole
If Trump Wants to Defeat ISIS, He’d Better Stop Alienating Muslims If Trump Wants to Defeat ISIS, He’d Better Stop Alienating Muslims
From the Salafi Muslims who beat the terrorists in Libya to the Shiite militias of Iraq, they are crucial allies in this fight.
Feb 15, 2017 / Juan Cole
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