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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost

@abuaardvark.bsky.social

7.6K followers 1.7K following 2.7K posts

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

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Sociology 30%

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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

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Reposted by Kori Schake, Marc Lynch

Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · 10h

Disconcerting, but article suggests they will not enter Gaza, and the US already has troops in Israel on various missions (THAAD batteries, construction engineers, a JSOC advisory cell, the 3-star security coordinator and his staff in Jerusalem) so this would not be some crossing of a Rubicon

US sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor ceasefire deal in Gaza

The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and privat...

apnews.com

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 21h

“Marc Lynch is angry. The word ‘rage’ appears six times on the first page. This should be sufficient warning to anyone expecting a cool, calm, dispassionate analysis of the Middle East….he is a fierce and compelling voice.” @hurstpublishers.bsky.social

www.spectator.com.au/2025/10/will...

Will Israel always have America’s backing?

Marc Lynch is angry. The word ‘rage’ appears six times on the first page, and comes in response to Israel’s…

www.spectator.com.au

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 1d

Publication day: @abuaardvark.bsky.social's timely and incisive America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region is out now.

‘No one is better equipped than Lynch to tell this tragic story ... essential reading.’ — David D. Kirkpatrick

25% off w/code LYNCH25➡️ tinyurl.com/yvxua6u8

A copy of America's Middle East held up in the stairwell of Somerset House. The cover of the book has a photo of an orange, fiery sunset with a helicopter silhouetted in front of the moon. There is white, orange and red writing that reads 'America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region. Marc Lynch.'

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

The New Arab @thenewarab.bsky.social · 1d

An initial outpouring of national solidarity with Gen Z protests has turned to public anxiety, revealing Morocco's deep-rooted fear of instability:

’We felt invisible’: Why Gen Z protests are shaking Morocco

An initial outpouring of national solidarity with Gen Z protests has turned to public anxiety, revealing Morocco’s deep-rooted fear of instability

www.newarab.com

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Kelsey Atherton @atherton.bsky.social · 1d

If Trump, who has put in zero effort and done it through hacks, can get here simply by yelling and being impatient, it's yet another reminder that Biden's steadfast support for the first 16 months of killing was a choice he made to disastrous consequences abroad and at home.

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Maryam Aldossari @maryamaldossari.bsky.social · 1d

Saudi Arabia’s investment in Twitter boosted its influence while being used at home to silence regime critics. “They’re surveillance states.They’re police states. They want to use the latest tech to stay in power and surveil their populations.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Money talks: the deep ties between Twitter and Saudi Arabia

The long read: Saudi Arabia’s investment in Twitter increased its influence in Silicon Valley while being used at home to shut down critics of the regime

www.theguardian.com

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

DC right now feels like Beirut a few years ago - the best restaurants are doing fine and all the others outside the bubble are dying, the streets are oddly empty, a lot of people are just traumatized, and the government and security forces seem either helpless or actively hostile.

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

I have a friend who owns a restaurant. He says tourism and travel to DC in recent months has devastated many restaurants in DC. So, yes, Trump is lying. Again.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "You can go and eat at the restaurants. The restaurants are booming. They were closing one after another and now they're booming, they're opening. Nobody has ever seen a transformation like they have in Washington DC. It's as hot as it can get."

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Reposted by Marc Lynch, Alan Richardson

David Corn @davidcorn.bsky.social · 1d

I have a friend who owns a restaurant. He says tourism and travel to DC in recent months has devastated many restaurants in DC. So, yes, Trump is lying. Again.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

If you want an actually brilliant album by a revered female singer in her mid-30s Hayley’s gotcha. It’s so good. If you don’t like it find her in Whole Foods, bitch.

open.spotify.com/album/0U0Qv2...

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party

open.spotify.com

Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Omg it’s just me 😳

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Fact check: not true. And a damn shame, too.

Mike Murphy @mjamurphy.bsky.social · 1d

Apparently when you're a 40yo man with a bluesky account they just send you this stuff

Shot of hand holding hardcover book Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

What “guarantor of the agreement” means is going to be kinda important

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Trump plans to speak in the Knesset.

He’s also signed on as the guarantor of the agreement.

President Trump told me he is "likely going to Israel in the coming days" to address the country's parliament, the Knesset, in the wake of the Gaza peace deal

www.axios.com/2025/10/09/t...

Trump tells Axios he's "likely" going to Israel for speech after Gaza deal

"It is a great day for Israel and for the world," he said in a call with Axios.

www.axios.com

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

I’ll fucking sign Trumps Nobel Peace Prize myself if it ends the genocide, starts aid, prevents Israeli annexation and stops the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. We are a long way from that. Still better than Biden’s crew of super-geniuses managed.

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/gazas-tomorr...

Gaza's Tomorrow is Yesterday

Plus the latest from the MENA Academy Last week, the Trump White House announced a somewhat odd 20 point peace plan for Gaza; the language was so casual and the key points so vague that I at first as...

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Trump tells Axios he's "likely" going to Israel for speech after Gaza deal

"It is a great day for Israel and for the world," he said in a call with Axios.

www.axios.com

Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

I wish I didn’t

Reposted by Marc Lynch

Mike Murphy @mjamurphy.bsky.social · 1d

Apparently when you're a 40yo man with a bluesky account they just send you this stuff

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Hamas asked for it but you’re probably right

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

I hope the architects of the Gaza plan have read one good book about the occupation of Iraq. More, even.

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Hope they get Marwan Barghouti and he can rise to the moment

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 1d

BREAKING Hamas says alive hostages to be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of deal implementation

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Are there any Republicans who might be able to end the shutdown? Or do, like, anything? I mean come on they control every branch of government.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

These Democrats Could Hold the Key to Ending the Shutdown

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Israeli sources: Gaza deal expected in hours, IDF to completely withdraw from the Strip

Follow for @haaretzcom.bsky.social updates

www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Trump announces Gaza cease-fire: 'all of the hostages will be released very soon'

***

www.haaretz.com

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 1d

BREAKING: Israeli war planes continue to launch raids on Gaza City as Palestinians celebrate the ceasefire announcement, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent on the ground.

🔴 LIVE update: aje.io/xqppys

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

AFP News Agency @en.afp.com · 1d

BREAKING Hamas says alive hostages to be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners within 72 hours of deal implementation

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

Yup and lots of other examples

Reposted by Marc Lynch

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 1d

BREAKING: Hamas will release all 20 living hostages this weekend, AP sources say, as Israelis will withdraw from majority of Gaza.

Israel, Hamas agree to 'first phase' of plan to end fighting, release hostages, Trump says

President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners.

bit.ly

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

It’s only a beginning not an ending but anything which stops the slaughter of Gaza is good. Hoping for the best, been around long enough to fear the worst.

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/gazas-tomorr...

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Reposted by Marc Lynch

Aguas de março @aguasdemarco.bsky.social · 1d

Gift link:
"One activist called Bray a “domestic terrorist professor,” & another shared the address of his home in NJ. The campus’s chapter of...Turning Point USA then launched a petition to demand that the university fire him...claiming Bray is a risk to their safety."
wapo.st/4h0JVWZ

Professor who teaches about antifascism moves to Europe after death threats

A Rutgers University professor who wrote a book about antifa received the threats after he commented on President Donald Trump designating the movement a “domestic terrorist organization.”

wapo.st

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Reposted by Marc Lynch, Ben Tonra, Aviel Roshwald

Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 1d

New from me in @foreignpolicy.com: how the US has gone from leading a global push against transnational repression, to proactively supporting it:

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/08/t...

Trump Is Supporting Transnational Repression

Instead of sheltering pro-democracy dissidents, America is now returning them for arrest.

foreignpolicy.com

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Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

lol

Reposted by Juan Cole

Abu Aardvark’s Ghost @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d

He said as he waited impatiently to cross the street while some evil mofo gets driven out to do evil things.

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