In The News

NATO Tested on Turkey’s Syria Operation: Al Jazeera

Samuel Stolton October 14, 2019
Kurdish fighters, in alliance with US forces, were key to reducing the Islamic State throughout Syria. US troop withdrawal from the area prompted Turkey’s military operation against these same Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. The operation divides NATO and risks destabilizing the region, reports Samuel Stolton for Al Jazeera. “After meetings on Friday with Turkish officials in Istanbul,...

Tens of Thousands Flee Homes in Syria: BBC

October 11, 2019
The United States began withdrawing troops from the region. Turkey wasted no time, launching an invasion of the border area with Syria – home to Kurdish people, many of whom stepped up at US urging to battle Islamic State terrorists. The invasion causes thousands of people to flee. “Turkish troops have encircled the border towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad and aid agencies fear the exodus could...

Turkey Seeks World Support on Syria Moves: Hürriyet

October 9, 2019
Kurdish forces were key to defeating Islamic State extremists in northern Syria. The ethnic group is a sizable minority in Iran, Iraq and Turkey. But Turkish leaders regard Kurdish hopes for autonomy and their own country as a terrorist endeavor. The US president announced a withdrawal of US forces from the border region, despite questions about the welfare of Kurdish allies known as the Syrian...

The US Withdraws from Syria: New York Times

Peter Baker and Lara Jakes October 8, 2019
Civil war in Syria began soon after the Arab Spring in 2011. Islamic State terrorists took advantage of chaos, gaining territory and control, and the United States supported Kurdish fighters in containing ISIS. But Turkey resents the Kurds – a large and marginalized minority in that country as well as Syria, Iraq and Iran – and labels them terrorists. President Donald Trump announced withdrawal...

War Crimes in Yemen: Guardian

Mohamad Bazzi October 4, 2019
Inequality and conflict have divided Yemen since north and south Yemen united in 1990. Civil war began in 1990, and the 2011 Arab Spring recharged divisions. By 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened to target Houthi rebels supported by Iran. The war has led to a humanitarian crisis with daily airstrikes, famine and cholera leaving as many as 200,000 people dead, though the UN...

US Cancels Taliban Talks: Voice of America

September 9, 2019
The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since October 2001. For almost a year, US negotiators have met with Taliban leaders to work out a peace deal. All the while, the Taliban extremist refused to work with the Afghan government. “The revelation of planned peace talks with the Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Camp David and the cancellation of the meetings are the...

Armed Conflict Possible in Europe? Spiegel

Dirk Kurbjuweit September 6, 2019
The rise of antagonistic nationalism triggered World War II – and a wake of destruction with more than 60 million dead worldwide. Fears emerge that another wave of nationalism, with disregard for minorities and democratic institutions and emphasis on competition, could put an end to 75 relatively peaceful years. Writing for Spiegel Online, Dirk Kurbjuweit summarizes the events leading to the...