Tag Archives: Iraq

Learning Again to Live With Wars

Posted on August 17, 2026 by Ali Tuygan

August 17, 2026 Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the Middle East has been traumatized by Western interventions, wars, power competition, and peace treaties among regional adversaries that have failed to embrace … Continue reading →

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Iraq and Syria Refuse Being Made Punching Bags

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Ali Tuygan

February 5, 2024 On January 3, twin blasts near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, killed a hundred people and injured scores in the southern Iranian city of Kerman adding to concerns … Continue reading →

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Growing Concerns About a Wider Middle East Conflict

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Ali Tuygan

January 6, 2024 The killing of Hamas’s Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut on January 2, and the twin blasts near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani that caused the death of nearly a hundred Iranians the next day have raised worries … Continue reading →

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Balance Sheet of the Past Week

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Ali Tuygan

July 25, 2022 The Presidents of Iran, Russia, and Türkiye met in the Astana format on July 19, 2022. President Erdogan went to Tehran to secure the understanding of his partners for a military operation against the PKK/YPG in Syria … Continue reading →

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War-making vs. Peacemaking

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Ali Tuygan

May 9, 2022 9/11 Led to an outburst of international sympathy and support for the US. President George W. Bush vowed vengeance and ordered the invasion of Afghanistan, where al-Qaeda’s leadership was based. Russian President Putin was the first foreign … Continue reading →

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Global Leadership: The Moral Dimension

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

July 19, 2021 On February 19, President Biden addressed the global community for the first time. At the 2021 Virtual Munich Security Conference he defined the partnership between Europe and the US as the cornerstone of all that the West … Continue reading →

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Pope Francis’ Visit to Iraq

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

March 8, 2021 The four-day long trip was an of courage. Yet, in a video message he sent to the people of Iraq before the visit, the Pope displayed modesty and said, “I come as a pilgrim, as a penitent … Continue reading →

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President Trump’s “Royal” Pardons

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Ali Tuygan

January 4, 2021 On December 24, President Trump issued pardons to more than 90 people.  The Washington Post said 60 have gone to petitioners who have a personal tie to Mr. Trump or who helped his political aims, according to … Continue reading →

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Iran-US Confrontation with Iraq in the Middle

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

January 8, 2020 President Obama made his intention to engage Iran public in his landmark Cairo speech on June 4, 2009, well before the election of Hassan Rouhani. He said:  “…For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by … Continue reading →

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The Middle East: A Disheartening Beginning for the New Decade

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

January 5, 2020 The Iraq-Iran war started on September 22, 1980. It lasted eight years. In August 1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait. A massive US-led military campaign forced Iraq to withdraw in February 1991. It was followed by years of no-fly … Continue reading →

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