The flip side to the Islamic State’s brutal invasions has been a trans-border unification of Kurdish fighters and refugees.
The Confederalists: A Kurdish Movement Bolsters Women and Bashes the West
read more
Syria
The Islamic State Singled Out Jordanian Pilot as Symbol of Air War Against It
Apparently, the Islamic State seeks to execute pilots as retaliation for their bombing missions.
How to Get Serious About Ending the ISIS War
A long-term alternative to war can only be built by popular movements in Iraq and Syria. These movements still matter, and they deserve our solidarity — not our bombs.
Burning Alive of Jordanian Fighter Pilot More Evidence Islamic State Refuses to Grow Up
By burning alive Jordanian fighter pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, the Islamic State reinforced an apparent commitment to behave like a terrorist organization, not a state.
How Good Is the Islamic State at Governing?
The Islamic State’s initial attempts at governing have been disrupted by Western airstrikes.
Saudi Arabia and the Islamic State’s Legal Codes Too Close for Comfort
Just like the Islamist State, Saudi Arabia flogs and prescribes hanging and stoning to death.
Between Nuke Talks and Opposition to Islamic State, U.S. and Iran Becoming Not-so-Strange Bedfellows
Just how involved is Iran in the fight against the Islamic State?
Charlie Hebdo: Middle East Blowback?
After the Paris massacre, European governments should resist narratives of civilizational conflict and push for a ceasefire in the Syrian war.
Why Are Women Joining the Islamic State?
For some women in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State offers something no one else has given them before: power.
The Grit — and the Glamor — of the Human Rights Game
A new documentary offers a James Bond-like look at the trials and tribulations of globetrotting human rights investigators.