Argument
Israel’s Security Gamble
The Middle East faces a future of long-term political instability that will be grinding for everyone, particularly for Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians. Israelis, despite their triumphalism, face a future of constant military conflict and international opprobrium. But certain trends speak to a reimagined, functioning future.
Frenemies With Benefits
Iran and Israel maintained a covert relationship after the revolution that brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power, continuing to engage in trade worth millions of dollars per year, even as Iran publicly denied Israel’s right to exist. This shows that the Iranian regime is and has historically been a rational actor.
The Changing Face of the Houthis
Yemen’s Houthis are among the most misunderstood groups in the world. The movement’s critics and observers fail to grasp that it does not function like a traditional hierarchical organization, which is why it has been able to adapt to the political landscape.
Syria Needs a Strong Society, Not a Strongman
The world is worried about the jihadism of Syria’s new leaders, but the world may be missing the point. Whether the state is religious or secular, Syria needs a strong society, not a strongman.
Laboratories of Authoritarianism
Why does open authoritarianism feel like a relief to some people? If you are going to be told what to do and can’t offer feedback that someone actually listens to, maybe it is better not to even have the pretense of democracy. Open authoritarianism is, of course, what Trump offers.
Proposed Legislation Threatens a Backslide on U.S. Democracy
A “Stop Terror-Financing” bill that has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives has raised red flags for its similarity to “foreign agent” laws — a cornerstone of repression in Putin’s Russia and Orban’s Hungary. But with the incoming Trump administration, the bill has a good chance of becoming law.
Tallying Syria’s War Dead
Determining the true scale of lives lost in Syria’s 14-year conflict is essential for accountability and transitional justice. By merging datasets, documenting on the ground and honoring each victim, Syrians and global experts can forge a path toward a new Syria — one built on truth and redress.