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Archive for the tag “ISIS”

18 Mar 2018

The US Legacy In Iraq: Violence, Sectarianism – And Elections

After 15 years of violence, insecurity and sectarianism following the US invasion of Iraq, finding cause for optimism can be a fool’s errand for Iraqi leaders. This week marks the 15-year anniversary of the start of the US invasion of Iraq, ostensibly to free Iraqis from tyranny and oppression. What came next is well known: With the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein, the US unleashed a storm of killing and division that persists to this day.

Read Here – Al Jazeera

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Posted in Middle East and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
21 Sep 2017

Will Pakistan Part Ways With Its Proxies?

Pakistan has to come to terms and do away with its proxies if it is interested in retaining the friendship with China; the BRICS declaration is a gentle nudge. Commenting on China’s regional approach to political, security, and economic issues, former Pakistani senator and analyst Afrasiab Khattak writes in one of his latest articles that “China is not content with looking at Afghanistan or India from Pakistan’s point of view anymore.”

Read Here – The Diplomat

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07 Sep 2017

Egypt’s President Stands On Shifting Sands

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi

As a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, Egypt has played an integral role in helping to combat the region’s terrorist threat, particularly since Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi came to power in June 2014. However, Egypt is facing a daunting terrorist challenge of its own, primarily in the lawless Sinai Peninsula where ISIS’ Sinai affiliate and other militant groups roam freely and execute frequent attacks against Egyptian military and security personnel.

Read Here – The Cipher Brief

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30 Jun 2017

A Cold War Turning Hot In The Middle East

The Cold War in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran is coming to a head. So far carried out with the help of proxies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere, it’s in danger of turning into a military confrontation between the two regional powers.

Read Here – RealClearWorld

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29 Jun 2017

A Newly Discovered Manuscript And Its Lesson On Islam

Islam can’t be reduced to a single sacred book, frozen in time. It’s a dynamic and complex tradition that was continually revised and re-revised over many lifetimes, and even within a single lifetime. You might even say that the history of Islam is a history in which Muslims are always reconsidering how the many layers of their textual inheritance square with their present social and political circumstances.

Read Here – The Atlantic

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12 Apr 2017

You Can’t Understand ISIS If You Don’t Know The History Of Wahhabism In Saudi Arabia

It is not hard to understand how the founding of the Islamic State by ISIS in contemporary Iraq might resonate amongst those who recall this history. Indeed, the ethos of 18th century Wahhabism did not just wither in Nejd, but it roared back into life when the Ottoman Empire collapsed amongst the chaos of World War I.

Read Here – Huffington Post

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08 Apr 2017

Seven Disturbing Implications Of Trump’s Syria Strike

The attack raises a series of questions about the president’s approach to America’s political processes and institutions.

Read Here – Defense One

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17 Jan 2017

The U.S. Military Loves The Obama Doctrine. Can It Survive Trump?

What comes next in Iraq is on everyone’s mind. Trump will inherit Iraq, its internal ethnic divides and external pressures between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He will inherit a complex, deliberate way of war solidified over eight years by Obama, yet born of the experiences of U.S. generals — including several who will now serve at the highest levels.

Read Here – Defense One

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17 Jan 2017

Obama Wasn’t Weak On Foreign Policy – He Was Just Wise Enough To Realise That Asia, Not America, Is The Future

As the Trump presidency nears, it has suddenly become fashionable to downplay the achievements of Barack Obama, not least because the President-elect seems so keen on ripping up much of what he did. One view in particular has become popular: that Obama pursued a weak foreign policy, which is to blame for many of the problems facing the world today.

Read Here – The Independent

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12 Nov 2016

Think National Security Is Complicated Now? Wait Until Trump Gets Started

President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Nov. 10, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Nov. 10, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

 

DONALD TRUMP IS the next commander in chief. Envisioning a Trump foreign and defense policy challenges the imagination and leaves allies abroad and observers at home scrambling to sketch a vision of the future. As a candidate, Trump didn’t outline his policies in detail, and his previous thoughts on a given issue aren’t terribly reliable indicators of current or future ones.

Read Here – Wired

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