Middle East

Syria Ends Emergency Rule as Opposition Gains Momentum

Staff / Truthdig Apr 20, 2011 Observers say the concessions could mark the beginning of the end for President Bashar al-Assad. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Gaylingual’ Code Invented in Myanmar

Staff / Truthdig Apr 18, 2011 Gay men in Myanmar make up a language, women disappear in new-order Egypt and the Civil War divides Americans in 2011. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Syria Moves to End Emergency Rule

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2011 After weeks of anti-government protests that show no sign of cooling, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has decided to try to quell the dissent with honey rather than vinegar, overturning a national state of emergency that has lasted nearly 50 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mubarak Speaks Out, Denies Corruption

Staff / Truthdig Apr 11, 2011 Breaking his silence for the first time since his departure, ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has gone public to defend his honor and declare that he did not steal billions from the country’s treasury. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sadr Delivers an Ultimatum to U.S.

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2011 Moqtada al-Sadr is back, issuing an ultimatum to American troops and contractors: Leave Iraq by the end of the year or he will revive his Mehdi Army and relaunch attacks on the United States' post-withdrawal presence in the country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

NATO Apologizes to Libyan Rebels

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2011 Airstrikes Thursday in NATO's campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's forces killed at least four Libyan rebels in a "friendly fire" accident, the second in a week. After a bit of foot-dragging by the British deputy commander of the air campaign, NATO apologized to the rebels. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

27 Killed in Latest Syrian Protest

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2011 At least 27 demonstrators are dead at the hands of Syrian security forces as new protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad erupted Friday in the southern city of Daraa. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudis Play Into Radical islam’s Hands

Barry Lando / Truthdig Apr 8, 2011 When the secret history of the current “Arab Spring” is written, we may learn that one of the many unintended consequences of U.S. attempts to keep up with -- and influence -- the historic events was to provide a flood of new recruits to radical Islam. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

NATO Boosts Bombing Amid Rebel Complaints

Staff / Truthdig Apr 7, 2011 After a lull in the bombing -- and some very public criticism by the rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi -- NATO is once again ramping up its airstrikes on Libya, to the tune of 137 flights Monday, 186 on Tuesday and 198 planned for Wednesday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Leaks Suggest Iran Is Now Winning in the Middle East

Juan Cole / Truthdig Dec 7, 2010 Iran is winning and Israel is losing That is the startling conclusion we reach if we consider how things have changed in the Middle East in the two years since most of the WikiLeaks State Department cables about Iran’s regional difficulties were written That is the startling conclusion we reach if we consider how things have changed since most of the leaked cables about Iran’s regional difficulties were written. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Shifting Balance of Power

William Pfaff / Truthdig Oct 27, 2010 An epoch of Western world political domination is coming to an end. This is not simply an end to imperialism (new or old), but quite possibly the beginning of a probably long decline in the West's primacy in industry, technology and scientific innovation. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Beyond Kingmaker: Moqtada al-Sadr and the Future of Iraq

Scott Ritter / Truthdig Oct 25, 2010 Moqtada al-Sadr's ability to influence Iraq's political affairs has earned him the title "kingmaker," but his true aspiration is to be king He stands a reasonable chance of succeeding. Dig deeper ( 19 Min. Read )