How the Battle of Algiers Made Jean-Marie Le Pen
In the first three months of 1957, Jean-Marie Le Pen, later the founder and president of France’s far-right National Front party, participated in the battle of Algiers as a paratrooper. Witnessing France’s dying empire in Algeria inspired his unlikely — and precipitous — political rise.
Lost in the Luigi Mangione Fun House
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione has revealed a willingness to excuse violence directed at the powerful on the part of certain sections of the public and the press. This situation is not new, and its historical precursors help to demonstrate its danger.
The Fall of ‘Mr. President’s Province’
Decades of Assad family rule ended abruptly, leaving Syrians in shock, disbelief, jubilation and confusion. As opposition forces filled the power vacuum, and amid lingering sectarian fears and competing visions for the future, Syrians faced an uncertain path toward rebuilding and potential political transformation.
Kurdish Musician Hozan Cane Recalls Her Political Imprisonment in Turkey
In 2018, Kurdish musician Hozan Cane traveled from her home in Germany to northwestern Turkey to sing for a pro-Kurdish election campaign. The Turkish authorities swiftly arrested and imprisoned her on trumped-up charges. Her ordeal encapsulates a worrying trend in the country, where human rights abuses are on the rise.
Inside Israel’s Shadow War Against Iran in Syria
The newly surfaced “Moses” documents, apparently written by an Israeli operative, shed light on the dynamics between Assad and Iran. While Assad may have tried to limit Iran’s activities where possible, Tehran likely operated independently of Damascus, maintaining a firewall to ensure secrecy and prevent infiltration.