Juan Cole

Muslim Authorities Condemn Berg Killing Muslim authorities at al-Azhar Seminary, the preeminent center of learning for Sunni Islam, vehemently condemned the brutal murder of Nick Berg by terrorists in Iraq, according to Sobhy Mujahid. ‘ “Islam respects the human being, dead or alive, and cutting off the American’s head was an act of mutilation forbidden […]

Muslim Authorities Condemn Berg Killing Muslim authorities at al-Azhar Seminary, the preeminent center of learning for Sunni Islam, vehemently condemned the brutal murder of Nick Berg by terrorists in Iraq, according to Sobhy Mujahid. ‘ “Islam respects the human being, dead or alive, and cutting off the American’s head was an act of mutilation forbidden […]

US Helps Revive the Old Pan-Islamic Project In Iraq My article, “US Failure Helps Revive the Old Pan-Islamic Project,” is now available in English at the Le Monde Diplomatique Web Site. THE Iraqi rebellion in April signals the re-emergence of Iraqi nationalism and perhaps even of Arab nationalism, as an important factor in the post-Ba’ath […]

US Helps Revive the Old Pan-Islamic Project In Iraq My article, “US Failure Helps Revive the Old Pan-Islamic Project,” is now available in English at the Le Monde Diplomatique Web Site. THE Iraqi rebellion in April signals the re-emergence of Iraqi nationalism and perhaps even of Arab nationalism, as an important factor in the post-Ba’ath […]

Heavy Fighting in Karbala AP is reporting heavy fighting in Karbala between Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army and US forces, with the Shiite militiamen taking heavy casualties, some 25 estimated dead. The US used heavy firepower in the sacred Shiite city, destroying half of the historic al-Mukhayyam Mosque not so far from the shrine of the […]

Heavy Fighting in Karbala AP is reporting heavy fighting in Karbala between Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army and US forces, with the Shiite militiamen taking heavy casualties, some 25 estimated dead. The US used heavy firepower in the sacred Shiite city, destroying half of the historic al-Mukhayyam Mosque not so far from the shrine of the […]

Taguba and Cambone Clash on Prison Torture Responsibility No one is a better friend to historians than a military or civilian official who doesn’t know he is supposed to lie about some things. The WP reports, “Taguba said that when control of the prison was turned over to military intelligence officials, they had authority over […]

Taguba and Cambone Clash on Prison Torture Responsibility No one is a better friend to historians than a military or civilian official who doesn’t know he is supposed to lie about some things. The WP reports, “Taguba said that when control of the prison was turned over to military intelligence officials, they had authority over […]

Signs of a Negotiated Settlement in Najaf But Clashes Continue at Kufa, Karbala az-Zaman: The Coalition and Muqtada al-Sadr exchanged letters via mediators during the past thirty-six hours, which may be fateful. Signs of flexibility were apparent in Muqtada’s response to ending the crisis, assuming that the American side would accept negotiations on the basis […]