Three car bombings, all claimed by ISIS, killed at least 93 people in Baghdad today: In the largest attack of the day, a car bomb ripped through a commercial area in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City Wednesday morning, killing at least 63 people and wounding at least 85. Later in the afternoon, two … Continue reading Baghdad attacks kill almost 100 people

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: Yemen

Late last week the US and Russia agreed to extend a piecemeal ceasefire covering parts of Syria to Aleppo, the focal point of most of the recent fighting between Bashar al-Assad's army and the Syrian rebels. This apparently came, at least initially, as news to the people who are actually doing the fighting, though, because … Continue reading Aleppo’s ceasefire is great except for all the fighting

You're reading that title and expecting some kind of rant, I can tell. But there's no rant here, just a pretty cool story. I assume you've heard of Hannibal, yes? What? No, not that Hannibal. I'm talking about the other Hanniba- That's the same Hannibal played by a different actor. Look, do I have to … Continue reading History in horse shit

This is possibly the most incredible piece of video ever filmed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ444y_b0Vg At least Ted finished his campaign they way he started it: awkwardly and in a way that made most people supremely uncomfortable.

Consider this: if somebody had told you a year ago that by early May the Democratic primary would be closer than the Republican primary*, without Joe Biden getting into the race, would you have believed them? I don't think I would have. * I realize that both contests are effectively over, math-wise, but with Cruz … Continue reading Deep electoral thoughts

If yesterday's post on the deteriorating situation in Aleppo made it sound like it's Assad's forces who are doing most of the killing, that's because...well, because Assad's forces are doing most of the killing, as they have for the entire war. But the rebels aren't exactly innocent here: Rebel fighters launched an assault in Syria's … Continue reading Two to tango

Obviously it was five years ago today (technically; he was reportedly killed very early in the morning on May 2, local time) when Osama bin Laden was killed by US Special Forces in Abbottabad. Well, maybe. It's late and I'm writing this to avoid paying attention to the Penguins-Capitals game, which is driving me crazy. … Continue reading Today in War on Terror history: Osama bin Laden shuffles off the stage (2011)

When last we checked in, America and Russia were scrambling to salvage a Syrian ceasefire that was beginning to look more like an aspiration than a reality. And they just succeeded! Except... The Syrian government has called local truces near Damascus and in the northern province of Latakia but has excluded the main battlefield in … Continue reading Hostilities in Aleppo have un-ceased

After a much-needed break, I'm going to try to get back to some regular blogging. 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 over the next … Continue reading Catching up: Iraq