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Juan Cole

Iran
No Fair!  Iran put its Country Right next to Bases used by US Military in Middle East

No Fair! Iran put its Country Right next to Bases used by US Military in Middle East

Juan Cole

Political Cartoon | – “No Fair! Iran put its Country right next to Bases used by US Military in Middle East h/t Middle East Eye

Donald Trump
Trump, Troll-in-Chief, wags the Impeachment Dog by Going to War with Iran

Trump, Troll-in-Chief, wags the Impeachment Dog by Going to War with Iran

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The madman in the White House has been sulking and raging for weeks about his impeachment proceedings, tweeting manically on some days more than 100 times. With the release by JustSecurity.org of unredacted emails on the Ukraine scandal showing that Trump personally (and illegally) withheld congressionally mandated military aid to […]

Donald Trump
Two 'divinely chosen' Great Leaders, Trump and Iran's Khamenei, in Heated Tweet War over Iraq

Two ‘divinely chosen’ Great Leaders, Trump and Iran’s Khamenei, in Heated Tweet War over Iraq

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – I suppose it was foreseeable that at some point it would happen, but we’re finally here. President Donald J. Trump and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran are in a tweet war. The two leaders have many things in common. Trump’s cabinet members such as Rick Perry have said that Trump […]

Omar Khayyam
How to Write Rubaiyat

How to Write Rubaiyat

Juan Cole

Edward FitzGerald’s translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam was a worldwide publishing phenomenon from about 1880 until the 1970s, and is still beloved by many readers. Rubaiyat is actually a plural, meaning “quatrains.” The singular would be ruba’i, with a long a and “a” long “i.” The word is from the Arabic root for […]

Donald Trump
US Embassy in Baghdad Invaded after SecState Pompeo Slashed Security Funding, Took no Preventive Steps in wake of US Airstrikes

US Embassy in Baghdad Invaded after SecState Pompeo Slashed Security Funding, Took no Preventive Steps in wake of US Airstrikes

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – There was nothing more predictable than that the US Embassy should come under attack after the US Air Force bombed five bases of the Iraqi Shiite militia, Kata’ib Hizbullah (Party of God Brigade). Hundreds of supporters of the militia demonstrated in front of the embassy Tuesday, in the wake of […]

Uncategorized
2020 New Year Celebration Fireworks in the Middle East

2020 New Year Celebration Fireworks in the Middle East

Juan Cole

Happy New Year 2020 FireWorks Doha Qatar Corniche İstanbul Ortaköy Shore Fireworks, after midnight 1 Jan. 2020 Kuwait New Year Celebration 2020 Light Show !! Saudi Arabia celebrates the Western New Year for the first time Ever with Fireworks in Riyadh Nazareth, Israel

Donald Trump
After "Sinful" Attack, Iraqi Gov't "Reviewing" US Relationship, as Shiite Militias demand Expulsion of US Troops

After “Sinful” Attack, Iraqi Gov’t “Reviewing” US Relationship, as Shiite Militias demand Expulsion of US Troops

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Euronews Arabic reports that the Trump administration’s strike on three bases of the Kata’ib Hizbullah in Iraq and two in Syria has provoked widespread fury among politicians, students and the public. Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdulmahdi said Monday that he had attempted to dissuade the Trump administration from the […]

Omar Khayyam
The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam on the New Year

The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam on the New Year

Juan Cole

Trans. Edward FitzGerald (1859) | – IV Now the New Year reviving old Desires, The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires, Where the White Hand Of Moses on the Bough Puts out, and Jesus from the Ground suspires. VII Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling: The Bird […]

Featured
Iraqi PM 'Categorically Rejects' Trump Admin. Strikes, as Shiite Militia Leader Pledges attacks on US Troops

Iraqi PM ‘Categorically Rejects’ Trump Admin. Strikes, as Shiite Militia Leader Pledges attacks on US Troops

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The Iraqi newspaper Shafaq reports on the reaction of the Kata’ib Hizbullah, an Iraqi Shiite militia, to the US airstrikes targeting its bases on Sunday. The US maintains that Kata’ib Hizbullah (not to be confused with the Lebanese militia) is responsible for an unprecedented number of mortar and rocket attacks […]

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