Juan Cole

Japan in Iraq Reposted by permission: ‘Shingetsu Newsletter No. 33 July 7, 2005 Japan’s GSDF mission to Samawa has continued to produce a steady drumbeat of news over the past two weeks. Picking up from where Shingetsu Newsletter No. 26 left off, the political responses to the June 23rd attack ultimately fell along expected lines. […]

Statement of Qaeda al-Jihad in Europe This is my translation of the statement posted at the al-Qal3ah website claiming credit for the London bombings. – JRIC ————— ‘ Thursday 30/5/1426 = 7/7/2005 The Group of the Secret OrganizationThe Organization of Qaedat al-Jihad in Europe In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Blessings and […]

Implications of London Bombing The attack on London is not something it is easy for me to talk about in dry analytical terms. I’ve lived in London, doing research, have often visited, and have many friends there. I know the tube or subway stops being talked about, and have ridden the double decker bus that […]

16 Killed, 39 Wounded in Guerrilla Violence Foreign Jihadis Target Shiite Badr Corps Al-Zaman: A statement attributed to Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has announced the formation of a radical Sunni “Umar Brigades” to target the Shiite “Badr Corps”. His group also threatened to execute Egyptian diplomat Ihab Sherif for “apostasy” from Islam. (Radical Salafis […]

103 Iraqi Parliamentarians Demand Withdrawal of US Troops Gilber Achcar kindly shares his translation of an al-Hayat article: ‘[More than] 103 MPs Demand a Timetable for the Withdrawal of Foreign Troops Baghdad – Abdel-Wahed Tohmeh – Al-Hayat, July 4, 2005 103 members of the [ 275-member] National Assembly (the Parliament) have demanded the adoption of […]

More on Exit Strategies An informed reader writes, regarding the issue of an exit strategy from Iraq: ‘ First, most reasonable proposals run up against the immovable object of the Bush admin’s unwillingness to admit that it has been wrong about four things – its stated reasons for going to war, the evidence that it […]

Dulaimi to Iran: No attack by US from Iraq AMS Repudiates Call for Sunni Votes Al-Hayat reports that Iraqi Minister of Defense Saadoun Dulaimi is now in Iran for consultations with his opposite number, in preparation for the visit next week of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari to Tehran. Sources close to Jaafari told al-Hayat that […]

Russia, China, Central Asia Call for US Withdrawal The members of something called the Shanghai Cooperation Council are trying to push the United States back out of Central Asia. The SCO consists of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, and Russia. The US essentially came into their territories or spheres of influence in 2001 to prosecute […]

Bahrain Diplomat Wounded in Baghdad Bombing Near Iran Embassy The Bahraini charge d’affaires in Baghdad was shot in the hand while he was on his way to work Tuesday morning. He was taken to Yarmouk Hospital. This was likely an assassination attempt by guerrillas. Guerrillas also set off a bomb that targeted a US convoy […]