Iraq

(By Globalpost) As Iraq spirals, the Kurds take advantage (via GlobalPost) ERBIL, Iraq — As sectarian violence in Iraq reaches new heights and threatens to return the country to civil war, the semi-autonomous Kurdish north could be set to capitalize on the instability. An estimated 6,818 people were killed in Iraq’s violence… —– Related […]

art and photography

A Bridge of Boats across Frozen Tigris River, Mosul, 1903

Juan Cole

The authors say locals in Mosul told them that the last time the river froze was 1750. That freezing became more rare after that date is significant, since 1750 marks the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and increased coal burning for energy. The period 1250-1850 or the medieval cooling period (often incorrectly called the ‘little […]

Featured

John McCain and Lindsey Graham Want to invade Falluja Yet Again

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) There were conflicting reports on Sunday morning about whether the Iraqi government and its allied tribal levies had regained control of the western city of Falluja, which had fallen to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) on Saturday. What was not in doubt was that some in the […]

Afghanistan

The Politics of War Casualty Counts, from the “GWOT” to Syria

contributors

(By Michael Munk) Counting the casualties of war is a highly political exercise. We recall the competition for promotion and decoration between US military commanders in Vietnam for Vietcong “body counts.” When these were widely exposed as false or misleading (labeling civilians as fighters), the same military announced “we don’t do body counts” in the […]

al-Qaeda

Iraq’s Sunni Civil War

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) The attempt launched earlier this week by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) to take and hold city quarters in Falluja, Ramadi and Khalidiya in al-Anbar province has provoked an enormous political crisis in Iraq. The insurgents and supporters chased police and soldiers away from their stations, burned […]

al-Qaeda

Iraq: Government assault as Sunni Extremists Take al-Anbar City Quarters

contributors

(By AFP) Clashes kill 32 civilians in Iraq’s Anbar (via AFP) Fighting killed at least 32 civilians on Friday in the Anbar province cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, where Al-Qaeda-linked militants took over areas this week, security officials said. Police and tribesmen in both cities are battling militants from… AFP reports

art and photography

Street Kebab Chef in Mosul, Iraq, 1903 (Photo of the Day)

Juan Cole

From M. E. Hume-Griffith and A. Hume, Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia: An Account of an Englishwoman’s Eight Years’ Residence Amongst the Women of the East (1909).

Iraq

Iraq Gov’t Collapsing as 44 Sunni MPs Withdraw from Parliament

contributors

(By AFP) Clashes kill 10 as Iraq forces clear Sunni protest camp (via AFP) Iraqi forces killed 10 gunmen Monday in clashes that erupted as they cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp, a move likely to fan resentment among the minority community. As the fighting raged, mosques exhorted followers to “go to jihad,” or […]

Iraq

Iraqi Troops sent by Shiite PM al-Maliki arrest Sunni Parliamentarian, kill his Brother

Juan Cole

(AFP reports) also at the Jordan Times Iraq forces arrest Sunni MP, kill brother and guards (via AFP) Iraqi security forces on Saturday raided the home of a Sunni MP who backs anti-government protesters, arresting him and sparking clashes that killed his brother and five guards, police said. The raid threatens to inflame widespread discontent […]