Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
@abuaardvark.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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
“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...
“The world needs this book, now more than ever.’ — Fida Jiryis
Pre-order America’s Middle East
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/america...
Sharaa is like “and they said Asad’s palaces were tacky”
November 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Sharaa is like “and they said Asad’s palaces were tacky”
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
Including a video presentation of Mark Lynch's newest book: "America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region" (OUP, 2025)
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...
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
November 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Including a video presentation of Mark Lynch's newest book: "America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region" (OUP, 2025)
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...
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
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/sharaa-shoot...
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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
November 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
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
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
In the name of protecting Jews, Jews have their funding cancelled, get kicked out of seminars, and are removed from leadership positions in Jewish Studies to be replaced by non-Jews.
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
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 AM
In the name of protecting Jews, Jews have their funding cancelled, get kicked out of seminars, and are removed from leadership positions in Jewish Studies to be replaced by non-Jews.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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-...
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
November 8, 2025 at 8:39 AM
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-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-...
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
The Biden administration was fully complicit in genocide, and anyone who served in it should be held accountable.
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-...
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
November 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Biden administration was fully complicit in genocide, and anyone who served in it should be held accountable.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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
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
November 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
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
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
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
“”The Biden administration deliberately looked the other way in the face of overwhelming evidence that war crimes were being committed with U.S. weapons in Gaza,” @vanhollen.senate.gov
of Maryland, told Reuters.
of Maryland, told Reuters.
US intel found Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence of Gaza war crimes, former US officials say
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
November 8, 2025 at 11:07 AM
“”The Biden administration deliberately looked the other way in the face of overwhelming evidence that war crimes were being committed with U.S. weapons in Gaza,” @vanhollen.senate.gov
of Maryland, told Reuters.
of Maryland, told Reuters.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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
November 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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
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.
Just so we are clear: ICE went into a day care center—a private business—without a judicial warrant, and unlawfully kidnapped a worker in front of parents and children.
VIDEO: Day care teacher detained by ICE agents on Chicago’s North Side
A day care teacher was taken into ICE custody Wednesday morning at the Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood.
wgntv.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
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.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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.
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.
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.
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 PM
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.
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.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
BREAKING: Cornell University reaches a deal with the Trump administration to restore withheld federal funding.
Pathetic. Devalues my Cornell PhD by association.
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Pathetic. Devalues my Cornell PhD by association.
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 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It was Kazakhstan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
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.
November 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It was Kazakhstan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
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.
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
It was Kazakhstan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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...
November 7, 2025 at 12:06 AM
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...
Guess I better finish writing that piece lol
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.
“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.
November 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Guess I better finish writing that piece lol
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.
“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.
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 PM
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.
“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...
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
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
“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...
Makes sense
www.bbc.com/news/article...
“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.
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
“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.
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!
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
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 Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
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
November 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
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.
Reposted by Abu Aardvark’s Ghost
MESA and the AAUP have released a critical report exposing the weaponization of civil rights law to suppress campus speech concerning Palestine.
Read full report here: mesana.org/advocacy/tas...
Read full report here: mesana.org/advocacy/tas...
November 5, 2025 at 1:32 PM
MESA and the AAUP have released a critical report exposing the weaponization of civil rights law to suppress campus speech concerning Palestine.
Read full report here: mesana.org/advocacy/tas...
Read full report here: mesana.org/advocacy/tas...