The Mongols’ 1240 siege of Kyiv, an event we’ve also discussed here, occurred on their second incursion into the eastern European steppe. The Mongols’ first European invasion, which gives us today’s anniversary, was more a raid than an invasion, since there was no consideration given to actually conquering territory. But it stands as perhaps the most … Continue reading Today in European history: the Battle of the Kalka River (1223)
Month: May 2016
The second Iraqi front
In an operation that looks like the twin brother (sister?) of the SDF's recent activity north of Raqqa, in Syria, American Special Forces are embedded with Kurdish Peshmerga in an operation that is approaching, but will likely stop short of, the city of Mosul, in Iraq: The operation is the largest by the Kurds in … Continue reading The second Iraqi front
Better late than never? Or just too late?
After over a year of US-abetted Saudi brutality in Yemen, the Obama administration has finally decided to do the literal least it could do: Frustrated by a growing death toll, the White House has quietly placed a hold on the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia as the Sunni ally continues its bloody war … Continue reading Better late than never? Or just too late?
Difference of degrees
Iraqi forces are reportedly in the midst of a "final assault" to dislodge ISIS from the city of Fallujah: State forces including members of an elite counter-terrorism unit are moving into Falluja on several fronts, an official statement said on Monday. The Iraqi air force and international coalition jets are carrying out air strikes in … Continue reading Difference of degrees
Today in Caucasian history: the Battles of Karakilisa, Sardarabad, and Abaran (1918)
It goes without saying that the 1917 Russian Revolution had a considerable impact on the course of World War I. It eliminated the Russian threat on the eastern front, for example, which is the part everybody learns about in history class. But it's biggest impact may actually have been on the Caucasian front. This is … Continue reading Today in Caucasian history: the Battles of Karakilisa, Sardarabad, and Abaran (1918)
Today in Chinese history: the Siege of Kaifeng ends (1233)
The 1232-1233 Mongolian siege of Kaifeng provides some of the most detailed early accounts of the use of gunpowder weapons in combat.
The road to Raqqa
The largely Kurdish and very American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are pushing south, out of the historically Kurdish northern enclaves where they've operated previously, toward ISIS's "capital city," Raqqa. ISIS appears to have predicted this offensive, at least it does if you can believe US military reports of a couple of weeks ago suggesting that the … Continue reading The road to Raqqa
Crisis of faith averted?
There are signs--tentative signs--that Iran and Saudi Arabia are going to settle their beef enough for Iranian pilgrims to make this year's Hajj after all: Saudi Arabia said talks on Wednesday with visiting Iranian delegates on arrangements for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic have been "positive". Earlier this month, Tehran said "arrangements have not … Continue reading Crisis of faith averted?
Catching up: Turkey
Again, I’m trying to get back to some regular blogging after an extended break. But in order to do that, I’ve got to make some sense of what’s been going on while I’ve been away–for my own sake far more than for yours. This is part of a series of pieces in which I’ll try … Continue reading Catching up: Turkey
Million Man Meh
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party spent a cool half-million dollars (for reference, Zimbabwe's per-capita GDP is less than $1000) organizing what was to be a "Million Man March" through the capital city of Harare in support of Mugabe's continued rule over the country. They missed their target slightly: Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans … Continue reading Million Man Meh
The Foreign Exchanges Companion 