Juan Cole

Amara Explodes in Violence Again US Raids Sadrist Offices in Diwaniyah, Hillah 2 GIs were announced killed on Monday and one has disappeared, presumably kidnapped. The US military has launched an intensive manhunt for him. Reuters reports further political violence on Monday. The Mahdi Army militia engaged in a military operation in Amara, killing 4 […]

Guerrillas Kill 5 GIs Bombings, Attacks, Kill 44 Iraqis UN: Nearly 1 Million Displaced since US Invasion 5 US GIs were killed or announced killed on Sunday in Iraq and guerrillas killed some 44 persons in political violence. 83 US military personnel have been killed by guerrillas in Iraq since October 1. AP’s intrepid Hamza […]

Mulla Omar Threatens US Troops Repubs: Good at Ads, Bad at Capturing Mulla Omar, leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan and claimant on the title of Caliph, has issued a long statement in which he pledges to significantly increas attacks on Americans and other Western troops in Afghanistan. Arabic report here. You know that Republican […]

Break-Up of Iraq Threatens Mideast Stability Mahmudiyah Bombing Kills, wounds Dozens The Guardian reported Saturday on the 8 options for Iraq allegedly being considered by the Bush administration: 1. British out now. This is possible, but as the events in Amara on Friday show, will be attended by instability. 2. US and Coalition troops out […]

Amara Fighting Threatens Stability of South Fighting broke out Thursday and Friday in the southern city of Amara (pop. 330,000) between the Mahdi Army and the local police (which are infiltrated by the Badr Corps, another Shiite militia). The fighting killed 9 and wounded 90. The Mahdi Army fighters occupied three buildings important to the […]

Aliens or Citizens: Van Erp Peter van Erp writes: ‘ From: Peter van Erp Sent: Thu 10/19/2006 11:14 AM To: Juan Cole Subject: Your lettre de cachet is coming… Dear Professor Cole, I just noted an error in your post yesterday regarding the Military Commissions Act of 2006. The original version of the House bill […]

71 Killed Bombings, Shootings; Mosul, Kirkuk Targetted; Islamic Army in Talks with US Another US GI was killed in al-Anbar Province on Thursday. Guerrillas set off bombs in four Iraqi cities on Thursday, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded. *In Mosul a fuel truck loaded with explosives was driven into a police station. The driver […]

The Unconstitutionality of the Military Commissions Act: Furey Ed Furey writes: ‘ Professor Cole: You barely scratched the surface on the unconstitutionality of the so-called terror legislation. Beyond repealing habeas corpus, another grotesque violation of the Constitution is implicated in that legislation. The Constitution specifically forbids the passage of a “bill of attainder.” In the […]

MESA Letter on Judt Speech Cancellation This letter went out from the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association over my signature as president of the Middle East Studies Association. Many thanks to all the colleagues who worked so hard on it: October 19, 2006His Excellency Christopher KastryzkConsul-GeneralRepublic of Poland233 Madison AvenueNew […]