Arab World

(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 […]

al-Qaeda

Syria: Rebel Militias take on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

contributors

(By Joshua Landis with A.J.N.) A major confrontation has broken out between the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Syria’s other rebel militias. It is being led by two newly organized coalitions, called Jaysh al Mujahidiin and the Front of Syrian Revolutionaries. But many other militias have also declared war on ISIS, insisting […]

Arab World

“Zariya”: A. R. Rahman, Jordan song, Nepal Buddhist Hymn

Juan Cole

India’s MTV program “Coke Studio” (sponsored by Coca Cola) presents: Published on Aug 1, 2013 Giving a whole new spin to the term ‘world music’ — A.R.Rahman spins his magic on an absolute scorcher, featuring Jordanian singer –Farah Siraj along with Nepalese Buddhist Nun Ani Choying. With the traditional Nepalese Buddhist hymn forming the base […]

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

Syria

Syria: 73,000 were Killed in 2013 Carnage as Refugees Brace for Winter

contributors

(By AFP) 73,000 dead in Syria in 2013, war’s bloodiest year (via AFP) More than 73,000 people were killed in Syria in 2013, the bloodiest year yet in the brutal civil war that began in March 2011, an NGO said on Wednesday. The tally from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights came as renewed regime […]