Greatest Threat to Peace in Iraq is Not ISIS – It’s Donald Trump

Greatest Threat to Peace in Iraq is Not ISIS – It’s Donald Trump

“Fake facts!” exclaimed a senior Iraqi official in exasperation as he pointed to photographs online allegedly showing the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Kirkuk, orchestrating the Iraqi government retaking of the city last month. He said that in reality the picture, tweeted by a Kurdish leader as evidence of Iranian hegemony, dates from 2014. The…

By Killing ISIS Fighters Instead of Bringing Them to Justice, We Become as Guilty as Our Enemies

By Killing ISIS Fighters Instead of Bringing Them to Justice, We Become as Guilty as Our Enemies

A profoundly important, unprecedented and dangerous decision has been taken by European leaders in the past few days. It’s not made as explicit as it should be – because our leaders are always careful to erect a bodyguard of verbiage and lies to protect them if something goes wrong – but it’s perfectly clear that…

West’s “Kurdistan” Policy Not Adding Up

West’s “Kurdistan” Policy Not Adding Up

On one hand, the United States is demanding that Iranian-backed militias “leave” Iraq, claiming the fight against the self-titled “Islamic State” (IS) is over. On the other hand, the US and its European partners are still funneling weapons, cash, direct military support and organizing training for Kurdish factions in Iraq’s northern region to “beat back”…