The Weird Worries of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Having failed to talk Barack Obama into a war with Iran, the Emirati rulers hopes to have better luck with Donald Trump.
Middle East and North Africa
Donald Trump is Going to Love Egypt’s Dictator
The new president cares less about human rights. Does that make him a friend of Egypt?
Trump’s Plan to Defeat Islamists Looks a Lot Like Obama’s
Donald Trump’s plan to “bomb the hell” out of the Islamic State has been wisely toned down by his generals.
The Future of the Middle East is Turkey, Iran and Islamic Socialism
Turkey and Iran are the region’s natural hegemons. Islam and socialism provide the necessary social glue.
Syria’s Endgame
Syria could become a patchwork of Russian, Turkish and American-backed enclaves.
Defeat in Mosul Will Not Eliminate the Islamic State
Pushing the Islamic State out of Mosul could bring more destruction to the capitals of Europe.
A Tale of Two Cities in Mosul
A sense of normalcy is returning in liberated Eastern Mosul. In Western Mosul, the Islamic State still rules.
Erdoğan’s Blowback: How Personal Ambitions Plunged Turkey into Crisis
The Turkish president played with fire in Syria and undermined democracy at home. And he’s not done yet.
Israeli Right Jeopardizes Alliance by Hectoring Obama
Right-wing leaders in Israel act as if America needs Israel more than the other way around. They’re wrong.
Andrei G. Karlov Is Not Franz Ferdinand
Geopolitics shape events, not the other way around. The assassination does not upset Russo-Turkish relations.
Aleppo Has Fallen. Now What?
Now comes the time for battle against the remaining jihadists, coupled with Turkey’s war against the Kurds.
Joining Assad and Russia Against Islamic State Is Foolish
Donald Trump’s pact doesn’t make sense. Neither Assad nor Russia is interested in defeating the Islamists.
The Middle East in the Age of Trump
What little we know about the president-elect’s plans for the region does not inspire much confidence.
The Day After Tomorrow in Morocco
Morocco is a fitting place to host the United Nation’s annual Climate Change Conference.
After Mosul Falls, What Then?
The Iranians, Russians, Saudis and Turks are all jockeying for influence in Iraq while America looks on wearily.