As the U.S. Empire Fails, Trump Enters a Quagmire in Afghanistan

By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers Aug 29, 2017 The president did not trust his instincts and missed an opportunity to end the war. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Trump’s Flip-Flop on Afghanistan Will Extend Years-Long Quagmire

Juan Cole / Truthdig Aug 22, 2017 In his speech on Afghanistan Monday night, the president was primarily attempting to manipulate American domestic politics. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Blind Taste Test

Mr. Fish / Truthdig Apr 6, 2017 Dig deeper

Washington’s Supreme Hypocrisy on Chemical Weapons and Civilian Deaths

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Apr 6, 2017 The use of chemical weapons in Syria is an atrocity, but American politicians' outrage draws on myths of American exceptionalism and erosion of political memory . Dig deeper ( 5 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 )

Why Russia and the Assad Regime Want All of Aleppo Before Donald Trump Is Sworn In

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 30, 2016 Russia and Bashar al-Assad are not willing to risk Donald Trump changing his mind, what with all the hawks milling around him and on his new cabinet. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iran and Hezbollah Welcome Cease-Fire in Syria (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 12, 2016 The truce, brokered by the U.S. and Russia, is to take effect Monday evening. Lebanon's Hezbollah forces have been fighting on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad and get aid from Iran, which stressed that the agreement needs a “monitoring instrument." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Al-Qaida Everywhere: U.S. Support for Oppressive Governments Made Bin Laden’s Killing Moot (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig May 8, 2016 I think we may conclude that the decapitation strategy of dealing with al-Qaida does not work and has never worked. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

How Hillary Clinton Helped Turn Libya Into a ‘Terrorist Haven’ for Islamic State, According to NYT

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Mar 1, 2016 The second part of The New York Times' investigation into the U.S. approach in Libya is a scathing indictment of the former secretary of state's push for military intervention in the North African country five years ago. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Clinton and Sanders on Mideast Wars and Kissinger’s Legacy (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Feb 14, 2016 The Middle East conflicts and the ghost of the Vietnam War haunted last week's PBS Democratic debate. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Did Bashar Assad Win New Hampshire? Trump’s and Sanders’ Mideast Policies

Juan Cole / Truthdig Feb 10, 2016 Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders won big in New Hampshire on Tuesday. So what foreign policies did the good people of New Hampshire vote for? Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

The Long Knives Come Out in Baghdad (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Aug 18, 2015 In principle, the idea of streamlining the Iraqi government and making it more efficient is a capital one. But the reforms being pursued by Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi have to raise some questions about the direction the country is taking. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )