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From the Potomac to the Euphrates

Steven A. Cook examines developments in the Middle East and their resonance in Washington.

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An Egyptian pigeon fancier waves on his pigeons with a flag of Al Ahly Sport Club to guide them as the Great Pyramids are seen during sunset in Cairo, Egypt November 19, 2018.
An Egyptian pigeon fancier waves on his pigeons with a flag of Al Ahly Sport Club to guide them as the Great Pyramids are seen during sunset in Cairo, Egypt November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

مع السلامة, Güle, güle, להתראות, Farewell

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.  So it is with From the Potomac to the Euphrates.  It has been a lot of fun during the last nine years, spanning I have lost count of how many posts, and four research associates who took great care to nurture this blog. If you would like to continue receiving my work, please contact Katharine Poppe ([email protected]) with your email address and we will add you to my email distribution list. Many thanks for reading…. Cheers, Steven Read More

Algeria
An Algerian Arab Spring?
Is the Arab Spring back, as some protesters, activists, and analysts have declared? The uninspiring answer is a qualified maybe.
Syrian Civil War
Clashing Realities in Syria
400 American troops can't accomplish anything. 
Iran
The U.S. Message on Iran is Reminiscent of 2002
The march to war against Iran is echoing the drumbeats of America's last major Middle Eastern invasion.
  • Middle East and North Africa
    Bad Reputation: The Swift Decline of U.S. Soft Power in the Middle East
    What a late-night meal in Italy taught me about American Exceptionalism in the Arab world.
  • Turkey
    The Most Dangerous New York Knick
    The 7-foot center Enes Kanter has become a symbol of Turkey's never-ending purge—and a potential assassination target.