Has Trump Deferred to Russia in Syria?

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Apr 3, 2017 Some see U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as suggesting that Syrians are stuck with Assad and the Trump administration doesn't object. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Number of U.S. Troops in Iraq Is Approaching 6,000 (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 25, 2016 Five hundred more troops will be sent to help with the massive Mosul campaign. They will not engage in fighting at the front but will help call in airstrikes on Islamic State targets and provide tactical advice and training. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Pigs! Crusaders!’: U.S.-Backed Fundamentalists Chase American Commandos Out of Syria

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 19, 2016 Turning the Americans back across the Turkish border, the Free Syrian Army members cursed them and asserted that the U.S. is attempting a military occupation of Syria. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Seven Reasons the U.S. Could Not Have Forestalled the Syrian Civil War

By Juan Cole / Informed Content Aug 16, 2016 Americans are practical people, and they incorrectly believe that all problems have relatively simple solutions. Americans are practical people, and they incorrectly believe that all problems have relatively simple solutions. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Despite Terrorism Fears, 59 Percent of Americans Welcome Syrian and Iraqi Refugees (Videos)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jun 22, 2016 Despite the raft of Republican mayors who have pledged to keep Syrian refugees out of their states (that isn’t actually a thing) and the sewage that has spilled from the mouth of Donald Trump, a majority of Americans supports helping Syrian and Iraqi immigrants and letting them into the U.S. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

U.S.-Kurdish Force Moves on Islamic State at Manbij, and Turkey Goes Ballistic (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Jun 2, 2016 Less than two weeks after the Syrian Democratic Forces announced their campaign against al-Raqqa, the capital of the phony caliphate of Islamic State, the SDF instead has veered off to the west in a bid to capture Manbij. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Repeat Deployments

Signe Wilkinson / Truthdig Jun 1, 2016 Dig deeper

Iran Pressing U.S. to Compensate for Damages Dating to 1953 Coup

Juan Cole / Truthdig May 18, 2016 The bill approved by Iran's Parliament comes as a result of a $2 billion judgment against Iran entered by a U.S. court and backed by an act of Congress on behalf of the families of Marines killed in a Beirut bombing in 1983. Dig deeper ( 3 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 )

In Syria, More U.S. Weaponry Goes to al-Qaida

Juan Cole / Truthdig Mar 14, 2016 The al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front reportedly has repeated scenarios it previously acted out against other “moderate” remnants of the old Free Syrian Army. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Poll Shows Only 1 in 4 Americans Wants More U.S. Involvement Abroad; Cuba and Iran Low on List

Juan Cole / Truthdig Aug 17, 2015 A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, done before the Iran deal was announced by President Obama, shows how out of touch most of the presidential candidates are on foreign policy public opinion. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Bad Chemistry

Adam Zyglis, Cagle Cartoons, The Buffalo News Oct 3, 2014 Dig deeper