Trump’s Military Nostalgia (or ‘Victory at Sea’ All Over Again)

By Michael T. Klare / TomDispatch Mar 14, 2017 The president's talk of rebuilding the U.S. military has been influenced deeply by the “Victory at Sea” documentary series and the war movies of Trump's youth. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

What Is Trump’s Mission in Syria?

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Mar 11, 2017 The president deployed 400 additional troops there this week, in a move that is more political than military. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

America’s Major Challenges in Middle East Policy in 2017

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Jan 2, 2017 The incoming Trump administration is riven by a profound division between those determined to avoid deep entanglements in the Middle East—such as the president-elect himself—and many he is putting in key positions, who want to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Syrian Dictator Bashar Assad Calls Donald Trump ‘a Natural Ally’

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 19, 2016 In the past, Trump has asserted that ISIS is a far bigger danger to the U.S. than the al-Assad regime. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Masoud Barzani Pledges That Kurdish Forces Won’t Enter Mosul

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 30, 2016 The president of the Kurdistan Regional Government presumably made this announcement to assuage fears of Iraqi Arabs that the KRG would take advantage of the campaign against Islamic State to annex part or all of the city to Iraqi Kurdistan. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Why Donald Trump Is Wrong to Bet Against the U.S. Military-Backed Mosul Campaign

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 26, 2016 The Republican presidential candidate's pronouncement that the campaign is bound to fail is an affront to the Iraqi and U.S. troops risking their lives against Islamic State. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Iraqi Kurdistan Forces Take Bashiqa on the Road to Mosul

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 25, 2016 Iraqi forces continued their advance on Mosul on Sunday despite the car bombs and sniping tactics of Islamic State. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Islamic State Diversionary Attack Fails in Kirkuk, but Hundreds of Civilians Die in Mosul Battle

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 24, 2016 The fundamentalist group launches fighting in two cities, amid the slow, steady advances being made by the Iraqi army and its allies. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Islamic State Boasts That U.S. Will Go Down to Defeat in Iraq

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 19, 2016 As guerrillas spread through the beleaguered city of Mosul, a news agency linked to the militant group is carrying video of an IS fighter insisting that he and his colleagues will achieve a decisive victory. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Seven Things You Should Know About Mosul (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 18, 2016 The Iraqi government has announced that the campaign to take the large northern city back from Islamic State has begun in earnest. What is the significance of the city? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

As Islamic State Loses Territory, Will Weak States Gain Strength? (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 18, 2016 Political scientist Khalid Rif says that the organization's forced withdrawal from the town of Dabiq in northern Syria has a religious symbolism that could be fatal to its esprit de corps. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Hacker Who Handed Over U.S. Government Data to Islamic State Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

Staff / Truthdig Sep 28, 2016 International cooperation led to Ardit Ferizi’s arrest and conviction in a groundbreaking cybersecurity case. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )