Juan Cole

Groundhog Day in Purple Heart Boulevard 50 Dead in Clashes, 46 Bodies Found US and Iraqi forces fought a significant street battle at Haifa Street in the Karkh section of Baghdad on Tuesday. Ground forces were supported by US fighter jets and helicopter gunships. The fighting left 50 persons dead, which the US said were […]

Victims of Violence Triple Bush to offer more Power to al-Maliki Al-Hayat writing in Arabic says that Da’wa Party official Hasan al-Sunaid, a member of parliament, has information on Bush’s plan for Iraq. He learned of it through Bush’s consultations with PM Nuri al-Maliki: * Strengthening the Iraqi government so that it can take over […]

Are we Winning Yet? Submarines, Iran & Gulf Somalia, Afghanistan, Palestine Iranian officials point out that they don’t need a bomb to stop petroleum exports through the Straits of Hormuz. And they say they will, if the US bothers them too much about their nuclear energy program. Iranian sabotage in the Straits of Hormuz could […]

Sunnis in Parliament Criticize al-Maliki’s Security Plan Pelosi warns Bush on Purse Strings The killing by Iraqi guerrillas of 5 US troops was announced on Sunday. Three of them were airmen assigned to a bomb squad. Reuters reports other violence in Iraq, including the discovery in the capital on Sunday of 17 bodies. Speaker of […]

Maliki threatens Diplomatic Relations with Protesting States Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Saturday threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with countries that criticized the execution of Saddam Hussein. He defended the decision to execute him on the Sunni feast of sacrifice, saying that Saddam had profaned religious holidays. Note to al-Maliki: 1. Don’t compare yourself […]

Bay Area I’m going to be in the Bay Area, Ca., for talks Jan. 17-20. Thanks so much for your kind responses. The itinerary is full except for Saturday when I will be in SF proper. Public talks on this trip have now been arranged: UC Santa Cruz January 17 (Wednesday, 7 PM, College 9/10 […]

Ethnic Cleansing in Battle for Baghdad Sistani Aide Claims threat to Islamic Line McClatchy reports a mortar attack on Zafaraniya in Baghdad, which killed 5 and wounded 15. Another two civilians were injured in al-Amil by mortar attacks. Police found 12 bodies in Baghdad. Gunmen abducted an American civilian and two of his Iraqi aides […]

Cole on Air America Al Franken had me on the show Friday to discuss Iraq. Al played the notorious clip from Bill Kristol decrying the “pop sociology” that Iraqi Shiites wanted a religious state and that there would be Sunni-Shiite violence. It was a trip down memory lane. Bill Kristol still has more influence on […]

The Adults take Charge The Reality Based Community Strikes Back in Iraq The professionals take charge. Bush is bringing in Ryan Crocker, a distinguished career foreign service officer, as the new US ambassador to Iraq. And Gen. David Petraeus will replace Gen. Casey as top ground commander in Iraq. Zalmay Khalilzad, the outgoing ambassador to […]