Middle East

Trump speech

Trump Doesn’t Deserve Praise for His Raid in Yemen Trump Doesn’t Deserve Praise for His Raid in Yemen

Tough questions can’t be papered over by made-for-TV moments. 

Mar 1, 2017 / George Zornick

Refugees fleeing clashes in Iraq

‘Oh, ISIS. They Really Don’t Like It When Women Make Problems for Them.’ ‘Oh, ISIS. They Really Don’t Like It When Women Make Problems for Them.’

Iraqi refugees talk about how they resisted the group’s reign of terror.

Feb 23, 2017 / Anna Lekas Miller

Trump and Netanyahu Joint Press Conference

The Bibi-Donald Love-Fest Is a Threat to Palestinians—and the Entire Liberal West The Bibi-Donald Love-Fest Is a Threat to Palestinians—and the Entire Liberal West

Trump has opened the door to vast settlement expansion. But the two leaders are also natural allies in the populist right’s battle against liberalism.

Feb 23, 2017 / Noam Sheizaf

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Is Détente Really Dead? Is Détente Really Dead?

Washington and Moscow observers are saying American allegations that President Trump is a Kremlin puppet have killed the new Russia policy he promised.

Feb 22, 2017 / Stephen F. Cohen

Trump’s Middle East ‘Deal’ Leaves Out One Vital Player: Palestinians.

Trump’s Middle East ‘Deal’ Leaves Out One Vital Player: Palestinians. Trump’s Middle East ‘Deal’ Leaves Out One Vital Player: Palestinians.

In plotting a decidedly lopsided “one-state solution,” Trump and Netanyahu are following an old and exclusionary script. 

Feb 21, 2017 / Rashid Khalidi

US soldier in Afghanistan

This US Military Officer Explains Why America’s Middle East Wars Have Been Utter Failures This US Military Officer Explains Why America’s Middle East Wars Have Been Utter Failures

Hint: The foundational narrative is the problem.

Feb 21, 2017 / Danny Sjursen

YPG fighter in Hasaka

The Syrian Kurds and Allegations of War Crimes The Syrian Kurds and Allegations of War Crimes

Critics respond to Roy Gutman’s special report on the Syrian Kurdish militia.

Feb 21, 2017 / Meredith Tax and Roy Gutman

Iraqi army in Mosul

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

Kurdish figher in Hasaka, Syria

America’s Favorite Syrian Militia Rules With an Iron Fist America’s Favorite Syrian Militia Rules With an Iron Fist

The Kurdish YPG recruits fighters at gunpoint, assassinates political opponents, and suppresses the media.

Feb 13, 2017 / Roy Gutman

Michael Bennett

Why Michael Bennett Walked Away From the NFL’s Israel Delegation Why Michael Bennett Walked Away From the NFL’s Israel Delegation

Michael Bennett plans to visit Israel soon, but only if Palestinian people aren’t rendered invisible.

Feb 13, 2017 / Dave Zirin

x