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Blame the West’s interventions for today’s terrorism

Blame the West’s interventions for today’s terrorism

Outside powers have been crashing into the Middle East for more than a century. At first we presumed that people there would not mind, or even that they would welcome us. Ultimately we realized that our interventions were provoking hatred and violent turmoil. We took refuge in another comforting illusion: That no matter how awful […]

Put Syrians before geopolitics

Put Syrians before geopolitics

Why has the heart-rending conflict in Syria dragged on for so long, with such horrific results? Part of the reason is our insistence on playing geopolitics while thousands die. We seek abstract advantage rather than concentrating on ending the Syrian war. Geopolitics is fun. It’s about weighing options, measuring interests, and moving pieces on the […]