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Abu Aardvark
@abuaardvark.bsky.social

Marc Lynch. GW Professor, POMEPS commander, Brewers fan. The one true Abu Aardvark. AMERICA’S MIDDLE EAST. Find me at https://abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

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%
Pinned
“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

Reposted by Marc Lynch

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

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

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

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

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

Still life of dog helplessly watching the squirrel 🐿️ plunder the bird feeder.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

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

“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

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Juan Cole

“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”
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

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

“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

As they pivot to AI in search of something even worse for the planet

I actually feel bad for them (National Guard only, not CPB or ICE thugs) wandering around DC with nothing to do on the mean streets of foggy bottom and the lawless wasteland of Dupont Circle.

Good. Send those goobers home.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

Very much looking forward to the end of the fossil fuel era.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/b...
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Has Big Plans, but His Giant Fund Is Low on Cash
www.nytimes.com
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
Judge rules Trump’s DC National Guard deployment was illegal
The judge postponed the impact of her decision until Dec. 11 to give the Trump administration time to appeal her decision.
dlvr.it

David Byrne has a new album out and now I’m deep down a Talking Heads obsession rabbit hole. Same as it ever was.
a close up of a man 's face with the words same as it ever was
ALT: a close up of a man 's face with the words same as it ever was
media.tenor.com

It should be humiliating to be considered an acceptable hire by anyone in this administration
Since the shell organization that is the Wilson Center has 8 employees, the new fellows should be ready to wear a lot of different hats. 🤔

www.wilsoncenter.org/article/wils...
WILSON CENTER CONTINUES TO EXPAND UPDATED FELLOWS PROGRAM BY NAMING FOUR NEW DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS
www.wilsoncenter.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

Since the shell organization that is the Wilson Center has 8 employees, the new fellows should be ready to wear a lot of different hats. 🤔

www.wilsoncenter.org/article/wils...
WILSON CENTER CONTINUES TO EXPAND UPDATED FELLOWS PROGRAM BY NAMING FOUR NEW DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS
www.wilsoncenter.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

1/3 In the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers would click “translate” and, for some posts, would get a translation. Other posts, though, would trigger a message saying “Hebrew is not currently supported for translation”.
How X got into a muddle over ‘inflammatory’ posts in Hebrew
Over the last few days something odd has been happening with posts on X in Hebrew. Non-Hebrew speakers wishing to know what they were…
medium.com
Elliott Abrams says regime change is the only way forward in Venezuela and nothing could go wrong. Just like with Iraq. Do we really have to do this again?

www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
How to Topple Maduro
And why regime change is the only way forward in Venezuela.
www.foreignaffairs.com

I think we should test this theory, what do you say Mike Tyson?

Reposted by Marc Lynch

Call it “Not Seeing Like a State”

You can send my royalty checks to my office address

The US government is no longer a source of credible information on any topic - anything said by any of its departments should be ignored or presumed inaccurate. That’s astonishing and distressing but it’s our reality for at least the near future.
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”

Reposted by Marc Lynch

A State Legislature Wants a University’s Middle East Studies Syllabi. Faculty Don’t Know Why. (Yes they do)

www.chronicle.com/article/a-st...
A State Legislature Wants a University’s Middle East Studies Syllabi. Faculty Don’t Know Why.
The University of Arkansas flagship received a request from a legislative office last week for course materials and information about scholarships, emails show.
www.chronicle.com