Iraq
Wonks see ‘failed states’ in Iraq, Syria
Ex-CIA director James Woolsey charged that the Obama administration has no strategy for dealing with "failed states" in Iraq and Syria.
Tag: ISIS
Greater Middle East
Syria: ‘peace deal’ signals escalation (of course)
The UN resolution on a democratic transition in Syria assumes this can happen under Assad's rule. The US is now openly blocking with Russia over support for the dictatorship.
North Africa
US Special Forces repulsed in Libya: report
Libya's rival regimes agreed to form a national unity government, but a contingent of US Special Forces sent to fight ISIS withdrew after being confronted by a local militia.
New York City
New Yorkers say yes to refugees, no to Trump
Marking International Human Rights Day, activists gathered at New York's Columbus Circle, overlooked by the Trump Hotel, for a rally in solidarity with Syrian refugees.
Greater Middle East
Turkish pot calls Russian kettle black…
Turkey's prime minister accuses Russia of "ethnic cleansing" with air-strikes targeting Turkmen in Syria—as Ankara continues to attack Kurds in Turkey, Syria and Iraq alike.
Greater Middle East
Rights groups criticize arms sale to Saudi Arabia
Human Rights Watch called on the US to cancel a pending arms sale to Saudi Arabia in the absence of serious investigations into alleged laws-of-war violations in Yemen.
Iraq
Barzani bows to Turkish incursion, PKK betrayed
Kurdish strongman Masoud Barzani has invited a Turkish military force into his territory, with the apparent aim of driving the PKK from northern Iraq.
The Caucasus
Russia fights ISIS militants in Dagestan?
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee announced that security forcesĀ killed three militants who had sworn allegiance to ISIS in a shoot-outĀ in Dagestan. (Map via La Croix International)
North America
Another day, another massacre…
Was the San Bernardino attack politically motivated terrorism or just someone's personal revenge? Either way, pundits right and left are going to be squirming…
North Africa
ISIS preparing ‘retreat zone’ in Libya?
A UN Security Council report warns that ISIS is preparing a "retreat zone" in Libya as coalition air-strikes threaten the group's territory in Iraq and Syria.
Iraq
Patrick Cockburn serves up more lies on Syria
Patrick Cockburn's "briefing" to the House of Commons opposing British air-strikes on ISIS was a shameful betrayal of the Syrian democratic resistance—denying its very existence.
Greater Middle East
Syria: civil wars in the civil war
A growing split between secular and Islamist elements of the FSA is unfortunately mirrored by a breach between Kurds and Ankara-backed Arab and Turkmen forces.