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Abu Aardvark
@abuaardvark.bsky.social
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Marc Lynch. GW Professor, POMEPS commander, Brewers fan. The one true Abu Aardvark. AMERICA’S MIDDLE EAST. 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 @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 @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 18h
This stupid idea has been floated for years (pushed by key Arab regimes that hate the MB) and always dismissed because it’s both untrue and counterproductive. With this administration such details don’t matter.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 20h
“Almost daily Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, including the killing this week in Beirut of one of the militant group’s top commanders, punctuate a fraying peace. Lebanon exists in a gray zone between war and peace, which could also be the fate of Gaza”

warscape

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Shibley Telhami

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 20h
MESA letter on the detention of Vahid Abedini

mailchi.mp/mesana/mesa-...
MESA statement concerning the detention of Dr. Vahid Abedini
mailchi.mp

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 20h
“the first publicly known instance of a tenure-track faculty member landing on ICE’s radar… But it remains unclear why the professor, who is from Iran and has been teaching in the United States for over a decade, became a target.” POMEPS alum Vahed Abedini

www.chronicle.com/article/a-pr...
A Professor Was Released After 3 Days in ICE Detention. His Colleagues Fear a ‘New Normal.’
Vahid Abedini, an Iranian scholar who began teaching at the University of Oklahoma in June, was arrested en route to an academic conference.
www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Rebecca Solnit, Christian E. Weller , and 5 more

chrismurphyct.bsky.social
Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 20h
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

truthout.org
Truthout @truthout.org · 1d
Israel’s genocide has destroyed nearly 90% of Gaza’s economy, causing the worst economic collapse ever recorded. In 2024 alone, Israel caused Gaza’s GDP to decline by 83%, according to data reported by the UN Trade and Development agency. Now, Gaza’s economy stands at just 13% of its 2022 levels.
Gaza Economy at 13 Percent of Pre-Genocide Level, With Worst Collapse on Record
“Multidimensional poverty now engulfs all Gazans,” one UN official said.
truthout.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

economist.com
The Economist @economist.com · 1d
Israel insists that the strike that killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hizbullah’s military chief, did not breach the truce with Lebanon. But it is a reminder that ceasefires in the region remain shaky
The killing of a Hizbullah commander shows how fragile truces are
Israel’s ceasefire agreements in Gaza and Iran and are shaky, too
econ.st

Reposted by Marc Lynch

elifriedman.bsky.social
Eli Friedman @elifriedman.bsky.social · 1d
ICE arrests a professor (on an H-1B) for having the gall to go to a conference
OU College of International Studies professor reportedly arrested by ICE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly arrested an OU professor at Will Rogers International Airport Saturday.
www.oudaily.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

wsuares.bsky.social
Wendy Suares @wsuares.bsky.social · 1d
A professor at the University of #Oklahoma, has been released from ICE custody after being detained on Saturday, posting- "It was a deeply distressing experience, especially seeing those without the support I had." okcfox.com/news/local/o...
OU professor with valid visa reportedly released from ICE custody
UPDATE:Dr. Vahid Abedini, a professor at the University of Oklahoma, has been released from ICE custody after being detained on Saturday.Dr.Abedini posted on
okcfox.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

jewishcurrents.bsky.social
Jewish Currents @jewishcurrents.bsky.social · 1d
"In their eagerness to forget, Israelis are sowing the seeds of the next catastrophe, allowing them to germinate in plain sight but out of mind."

jewishcurrents.org/israels-coll...
Israel’s Collective Amnesia
Even as Israel continues killing Gazans, its liberals are ready to forget the genocide.
jewishcurrents.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

maitelsadany.bsky.social
Mai El-Sadany @maitelsadany.bsky.social · 1d
Absolutely insane news from Egypt, where award-winning human rights lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer has had his terrorism designation renewed for another five years.

Mohamed was pardoned by Sisi in July 2023 after being prosecuted and after serving jail time for his work as a lawyer.

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Philip N. Cohen, Peter Fallesen

mpidr.bsky.social
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) @mpidr.bsky.social · 2d
Gaza: Study Reveals Unprecedented Losses of Life & Life Expectancy
Researchers from MPIDR & the Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) investigated the impact of the conflict in Gaza on mortality. Life expectancy 2024 fell to nearly half the level expected without the war. www.demogr.mpg.de/go/GazaLE

Reposted by Marc Lynch

reuters.com
Reuters @reuters.com · 2d
Trump begins process of labeling Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist reut.rs/3JXpYV4
Trump begins process of labeling Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday began the process of designating certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, a move that would bring sanctions against one of the Arab world's oldest and most influential Islamist movements.
reut.rs

Reposted by Marc Lynch

timep.bsky.social
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy @timep.bsky.social · 2d
NEW: In Egypt, the impact of imprisonment extends to the entire family. Presenting a deep dive into prison visits, TIMEP nonresident fellow Dina Kamel examines the financial and psychological strain on those visiting their loved ones behind bars.

Read more: timep.org/2025/11/24/e...

Reposted by Marc Lynch

cnn.com
CNN @cnn.com · 2d
A controversial US-and Israel-led Gaza aid group says it will shut down after suspending its operations at the beginning of the ceasefire: https://cnn.it/4p2ciau

Reposted by Marc Lynch

nkalamb.bsky.social
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 2d
60%+ of Israelis surveyed don't thing the abuses of Palestinian prisoners should be investigated.

84% say the IDF should get an excellent or very good grade for *moral conduct*.

62.5% say a 'terrorist' should be murdered even if they don't pose a threat.

www.israelhayom.co.il/news/geopoli...
Other interesting questions in the survey deal with the purity of weapons and the interrogation of soldiers. For example, 62.5% of respondents said that a terrorist should be killed even if he poses no danger, and 60.6% of the public does not support interrogating soldiers regarding the abuse of Palestinian detainees. 84% of the public gives the IDF an excellent or very good grade regarding the

Reposted by Marc Lynch

imes-gw.bsky.social
IMES @ GW @imes-gw.bsky.social · 2d
NEXT WEEK (12/3): The Middle East Policy Forum will host Dalia Dassa Kaye and moderator Sina Azodi for a conversation about the timely and rigorous analysis found in her new book, Enduring Hostility: The Making of America's Iran Policy. For more information about the event, please visit our website.
Enduring Hostility: The Making of America's Iran Policy | Dalia Dassa Kaye - Institute for Middle East Studies
buff.ly

Reposted by Marc Lynch

sofaptekar.bsky.social
Sofya Aptekar @sofaptekar.bsky.social · 3d
Well this is very bad.
How Universities Used Counterterror Intelligence-Sharing Hubs to Surveil Pro-Palestine Students
Internal university communications reveal how a network established for post-9/11 intelligence sharing was turned on students protesting genocide.
theintercept.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Just arrived at MESA in DC for a couple of days. Hope to see a lot of you here, and don’t miss our reception Monday night!

Reposted by Marc Lynch

drmaximvoronov.bsky.social
Maxim Voronov @drmaximvoronov.bsky.social · 3d
Two Palestinian children have been killed on average each day since the cease-fire began, according to Gaza Health Ministry data and a UNICEF report.

www.haaretz.com/gaza/2025-11...
Airstrikes, hunger, waiting for evacuation: Gaza's children face a fragile cease-fire
Two Palestinian Children Have Been Killed on Average Each Day Since the Cease-fire Began, According to Gaza Health Ministry Data and a UNICEF Report. The UN Says About 4,000 Children in the Enclave Ur...
www.haaretz.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Israel just bombed southern Beirut. At least the Gaza ceasefire is holding oh wait

apnews.com/article/gaza...
Israel launches strikes in Gaza ceasefire's latest test as hospitals say 24 killed
Israel's military says it has launched new airstrikes against Hamas militants in Gaza, testing the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10.
apnews.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

columbiaup.bsky.social
Columbia University Press @columbiaup.bsky.social · 3d
Our books in Middle East studies reflect the interdisciplinary and global approach of our list. Stop by booth 48 or visit us online to check out our new titles for 2025-2026! buff.ly/V5fihtc @mesa1966.bsky.social #MESA2025
Promotional graphic for featured books in Middle East Studies on display at #MESA2025. It includes book covers at a 20% discount with code CUP20SM at cup.columbia.edu.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 3d
Still life of dog helplessly watching the squirrel 🐿️ plunder the bird feeder.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

bethlinas.bsky.social
Beth S Linas, PhD, MHS @bethlinas.bsky.social · 4d
Facts. He’s a danger to this nation. There aren’t reforms that can fix what he has done. What’s been undone will take possibly decades to repair. He must go. Thank you @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
RFK Jr., American Psycho
He needs to go. Now.
www.thenation.com

Reposted by Juan Cole

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
“instead of trying to separate from the Persian Gulf petrostates, Mr. Trump is reshaping America to look more like them: top-down, iron-fisted, resource-rich and more than willing to flash those resources as weapons.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...
Opinion | The Real Reason Trump Is Fawning Over Saudi Arabia’s Ruler
www.nytimes.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4d
Appreciate this outstanding and thoughtful review of AMERCA’S MIDDLE EAST

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
America’s Middle East by Marc Lynch: An excellent and angry analysis of an American mess
If this study can make for repetitive reading at times, that is the fault of several American administrations that have endlessly repeated the same blunders
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Juan Cole

sugarcane99.bsky.social
Yonette Joseph @sugarcane99.bsky.social · 4d
“The history of creating lists of Jewish people for the government is one of the most frightening in world history. And the idea that this is being done in the interest of the Jewish community is particularly frightening.” 🎁 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Federal Suit Seeking Names of Some Jewish Employees at Penn Sparks Backlash
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/us/eeoc-university-pennsylvania-antisemitism-jewish.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3E8.ODOB.NL7ALQJQgdAv&smid=nytcore-ios-share”

Reposted by Cas Mudde, Marc Lynch, Kim L. Scheppele , and 3 more

jeremymberg.bsky.social
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 4d
Well, this is chilling AF.

The Department of Education is suing Penn (in their quest for "combat antisemitism") requesting detailed information about Jewish faculty and staff.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

1/2
storage.courtlistener.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

someforeignfield.bsky.social
Travis @someforeignfield.bsky.social · 5d
Using the Sterling Arms XLCR as an illustrative example, I discuss the web of money and guns that the UAE operates to fuel the RSF's activities in Sudan, where it has been credibly accused of committing genocide. Until something is done about this, the killing will only continue.
Illicit Arms in Sudan
How foreign actors and lax arms export regimes are fueling genocide in Sudan
someforeignfield.substack.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 5d
“While Gen Z 212’s slogans and hashtags are new, the underlying message of citizens weary of government indifference is not.”

Good Samia Errazzouki analysis of Morocco’s latest protest movement.
arabcenterdc.org/resource/mor...
Morocco at Breaking Point? Drought, Misrule, and the Rise of Gen Z 212
From late September to mid-October 2025, Moroccans across the country descended into the streets to once again demand change from their government. Under the banner of a leaderless youth coalition dub...
arabcenterdc.org