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abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
@abuaardvark.bsky.social
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Marc Lynch. GW Professor, on leave AY24-25. The one true Abu Aardvark. AMERICA’S MIDDLE EAST (Hurst) on the way! Find me at https://abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

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Marc Lynch is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, where he is also director of both the Institute for Middle East Studies and the Middle East Studies Program. .. more

Political science 59%
Sociology 30%
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abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · Aug 14
“Written with passion, precision, honesty and courage. Essential reading on how American myopia, bias and hypocrisy set the stage for Gaza” — David D. Kirkpatrick

“The world needs this book, now more than ever.’ — Fida Jiryis

Pre-order America’s Middle East

www.hurstpublishers.com/book/america...
America's Middle East | Hurst Publishers
From the Gulf War to Gaza, a compelling critique of how and why Washington ensnared itself so destructively in the Middle East.
www.hurstpublishers.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 8h
Sharaa is like “and they said Asad’s palaces were tacky”

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 10h
Damn that’s a good line

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 10h
Sharaa shoots his shot - my new piece on Trump’s attempt to lock Syria into the US regional order as an autocratic partner against Iran, and how Syrian domestic challenges and Israel could blow it up.

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/sharaa-shoot...
Sharaa shoots his shot
Crazy things happen in world politics all the time, yes, but there really aren't many scenes as surreal as Ahmed Sharaa – not so long ago a leading jihadist insurgent in Iraq and Syria and now Syria's...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
As a Wisconsin native and Ohio transplant, Great Lakes is definitely a Cleveland brewery —a great one! — not Wisconsin. Or am I missing the joke….

Reposted by Marc Lynch

npr.org
NPR @npr.org · 2d
A Israeli military court will weigh the fate of a 16-year-old Palestinian-American facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly throwing rocks in the West Bank. U.S. lawmakers have urged his release. n.pr/3XjfC4I
An Israeli military court considers fate of U.S. teen charged with stone-throwing
A Israeli military court will weigh the fate of a 16-year-old Palestinian-American facing up to 20 years in prison for allegedly throwing rocks in the West Bank. U.S. lawmakers have urged his release.
n.pr

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Anne Norton

rimaanabtawi.bsky.social
Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 2d
US intel found Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence of Gaza war crimes, former US officials say

www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Reposted by Marc Lynch

ayoub.bsky.social
elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 2d
Biden knew that Israel was committing crimes against humanity in Gaza and then decided to keep US commitments to Israel, shortly before handing it over to Trump

www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Biden Discussed Potential Israeli War Crimes In Gaza. He Kicked The Can To Trump.
New intelligence shocked officials in late 2024, spurring heightened fear of U.S. liability, HuffPost has learned. The period saw Secretary of State Antony Blinken ask if Israel’s actions constituted ...
www.huffpost.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Ralf Michaels, Devon Greyson , and 3 more

rlspang.bsky.social
Rebecca Spang @rlspang.bsky.social · 3d
Latest write-up about outrageous administrative over reach at IU. www.jta.org/2025/11/07/u...
In Indiana, a vaunted Jewish studies program is upended by red-state politics over Israel and speech - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
A leadership shakeup, a defunded graduate student and political pressure from above have turned a storied program into a flashpoint for Trump-era campus politics.
www.jta.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch, David Murakami Wood

thecontinent.org
The Continent @thecontinent.org · 3d
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Still utterly enraged over armed men barging into a day care center and kidnapping a teacher in front of toddlers. This has to be punished and never happen again.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Pathetic. Devalues my Cornell PhD by association.
chrisgeidner.bsky.social Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 3d
BREAKING: Cornell caved.

Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
SIGNATURES For Cornell University: Michael I. Kotlikoff President of Cornell University Office of the President 300 Day Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 Ben the Winited States (including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Servives and the U.S, Department of Education): /N istant Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530 For the Department of Health and Human Services: Paula Matana S Paula M. Stannard Director, Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Effective Date: 14/7/2025.

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Scott L. Greer, David S. Cohen , and 7 more

chrisgeidner.bsky.social
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 3d
BREAKING: Cornell caved.

Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
SIGNATURES For Cornell University: Michael I. Kotlikoff President of Cornell University Office of the President 300 Day Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 Ben the Winited States (including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Servives and the U.S, Department of Education): /N istant Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530 For the Department of Health and Human Services: Paula Matana S Paula M. Stannard Director, Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Effective Date: 14/7/2025.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

apnews.com
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 3d
BREAKING: Cornell University reaches a deal with the Trump administration to restore withheld federal funding.
Cornell University announces deal with Trump administration to restore withheld federal funding
Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws in order to restore federal funding and end investigations into the Ivy League school.
bit.ly

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Juan Cole

diplomatofnight.com
Emissary Of Night | ليلى @diplomatofnight.com · 3d
The abundance of evidence of the Biden administration just looking the other way and being willing to supply arms to actions they knew violated international law will continue to grow
: Reuters Subscribe O Exclusive: US intel found Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence of Gaza war crimes, former US officials say By Erin Banco, Jonathan Landay and Humeyra Pamuk November 7, 2025 10:17 AM CST • Updated 29 mins ago

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Honestly all the leaks and winks and nods and portentous signaling that another country to join the Abraham Accords soon with Sharaa coming to DC Monday and MBS next week and… it was Kazakhstan. This is priceless 🤣🤣🤣🤣
abuaardvark.bsky.social Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
It was Kazakhstan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
stelhami.bsky.social Shibley Telhami @stelhami.bsky.social · 3d
This one is totally new for me as someone who holds a peace professorship: Bragging about achieving peace between countries that are already at peace with each other.

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Paul Goldstein, Bonnie Honig , and 2 more

johnpfaff.bsky.social
John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 3d
There had better be trials. And not just for the low-level thugs carrying out these orders, but for everyone up the chain of command.

If we get past this, the solution isn’t to pretend it never happened and invite Stephen Miller to Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

It’s trials w real punishments.
lyndab08.bsky.social Lynda Lopez @lyndab08.bsky.social · 4d
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
It was Kazakhstan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
stelhami.bsky.social Shibley Telhami @stelhami.bsky.social · 3d
This one is totally new for me as someone who holds a peace professorship: Bragging about achieving peace between countries that are already at peace with each other.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

stelhami.bsky.social
Shibley Telhami @stelhami.bsky.social · 3d
This one is totally new for me as someone who holds a peace professorship: Bragging about achieving peace between countries that are already at peace with each other.

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Ian Hall

robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 4d
Reports across the Middle East that Syria has given the US an airbase outside of Damascus and has given the Trump organization exclusive rights to build a new hotel there. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
Guess I better finish writing that piece lol
abuaardvark.bsky.social Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
If Trump really does put US military into Damascus then buckle up because Israel has been actively intervening and bombing and destabilizing Syria ever since Asad fell.
abuaardvark.bsky.social Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
“The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus to help enable a security pact that Washington is brokering between Syria and Israel, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.” Really now.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
If Trump really does put US military into Damascus then buckle up because Israel has been actively intervening and bombing and destabilizing Syria ever since Asad fell.
abuaardvark.bsky.social Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
“The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus to help enable a security pact that Washington is brokering between Syria and Israel, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.” Really now.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
“The UN Security Council has voted in favour of a US resolution to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his White House visit next week.”

Makes sense

www.bbc.com/news/article...
UN lifts sanctions on Syrian president ahead of White House visit - BBC News
US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the move sent a "strong political signal" that Syria was in a "new era".
www.bbc.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
“The United States is preparing to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus to help enable a security pact that Washington is brokering between Syria and Israel, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.” Really now.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
100% Agree

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
Showed a visitor to DC one of the great Washington museums off the mall, explaining how this one used to have an actual functioning legislature in it that held hearings and passed legislation and did oversight over the executive branch. Hard to believe but it’s true!

Reposted by Marc Lynch

judah-grunstein.bsky.social
Judah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 4d
We just received a pitch that in all seriousness proposed using this rubble to build artificial islands off the coast of Gaza as a cost-saving way to promote economic development, written by a former high-ranking Israeli national security official.
Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war
With endless rubble and destroyed streets as far as the eye can see, any plans for Gaza's future are a far cry from where it is today, writes Lucy Williamson.
www.bbc.co.uk

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
Abolishing ICE is the moderate position. What we need is prosecutions and long prison terms at every level of the agency.
tracynovick.bsky.social Tracy O’Connell Novick @tracynovick.bsky.social · 4d
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Families "horrified" after daycare teacher pulled out of school by federal agents.
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
www.chalkbeat.org

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Marc Lynch, Lisa W. Fazio , and 6 more

tracynovick.bsky.social
Tracy O’Connell Novick @tracynovick.bsky.social · 4d
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Families "horrified" after daycare teacher pulled out of school by federal agents.
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
www.chalkbeat.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

oconnor.bsky.social
Ross O'Connor @oconnor.bsky.social · 4d
"But as the designs advanced, his dream collided with reality. The Line’s own architects began to question whether the structure could ever be built as imagined. Costs ballooned, timelines slipped and the foreign investment that Riyadh had banked on failed to materialise."

ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com