Middle East

Hillary Clinton in Kentucky

Donald Trump Knows the Age of Reagan Is Over. Does Hillary? Donald Trump Knows the Age of Reagan Is Over. Does Hillary?

Plus climate protests around the world, and Patrick Cockburn’s ISIS update.

May 19, 2016 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Iraqi Kurdish Leader Calls for Redrawing Regional Borders—And Attacks Fellow Kurds

Iraqi Kurdish Leader Calls for Redrawing Regional Borders—And Attacks Fellow Kurds Iraqi Kurdish Leader Calls for Redrawing Regional Borders—And Attacks Fellow Kurds

Massoud Barzani praises Turkey’s authoritarian leader but has harsh words for the Turkish PKK and its Syrian Kurdish offshoot.

May 18, 2016 / Roy Gutman

Refugees in Chios

Desperate Syrian Refugees Begin a Hunger Strike in Greece Desperate Syrian Refugees Begin a Hunger Strike in Greece

“Tell the EU governments this deal is the biggest shame in the history of the whole EU.”

May 18, 2016 / Maria Margaronis

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin

Slouching Toward War With Russia Slouching Toward War With Russia

The highly provocative and unnecessary ongoing US-NATO buildup in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe is bringing Washington closer to war with Moscow than at any time since the 1...

May 18, 2016 / Stephen F. Cohen

“Human Rights Don't Apply Here”

The Wealthiest, Most Democratic Countries Are Taking in Only a Fraction of the World’s Refugee Population The Wealthiest, Most Democratic Countries Are Taking in Only a Fraction of the World’s Refugee Population

The way a society treats its newest arrivals is a test of its democracy. And we’re failing.

May 18, 2016 / Michelle Chen

Rebels in Aleppo.

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

US Marines in Afghanistan

How Long Does an American Military Promise Last? As Long As a Snapchat. How Long Does an American Military Promise Last? As Long As a Snapchat.

We can’t seem to remember our recent history for long enough to stop making the same mistakes over and over again.

May 16, 2016 / Peter Van Buren

Vladimir Putin: The 21st Century’s Greatest Statesman or Its Greatest Threat?

Vladimir Putin: The 21st Century’s Greatest Statesman or Its Greatest Threat? Vladimir Putin: The 21st Century’s Greatest Statesman or Its Greatest Threat?

The demonization of Putin seems to answer the question, but is it balanced and factual?

May 11, 2016 / Stephen F. Cohen

Hagel speaks with Afghanistan troops

The US ‘War on Terror’ Is Playing Right Into ISIS’s Hands The US ‘War on Terror’ Is Playing Right Into ISIS’s Hands

If we continue to wield the sledgehammer, the likely effect is even more violent jihadism with broader appeal.

May 10, 2016 / Noam Chomsky

Who Rules the World?

Who Rules the World? Who Rules the World?

The standard convention for answering this question often misses the point.

May 9, 2016 / Noam Chomsky

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