Middle East & North Africa

The Christmas story suggests that we can somehow try to be loyal members of our nations, our families, our tribes—and to reach out to the broader human community of which we are also a part.

And human nature is such that great generosity often fuels greed, especially when unchecked by viable law and social expectations.

While religious minorities go back and forth between being scapegoats and props, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has demonstrated that municipalities can play a key role in making their religious minority residents feel welcome as equal citizens and valued stakeholders.

That Jesus Christ’s two advents are set against the backdrop of a region rarely associated with good news is ironic, but this year that irony is less obvious. Good things are happening in the Near East if you know where to look.

“The Afghanistan Papers” by Craig Whitlock is modeled on the Pentagon Papers, which charged that the Johnson administration systematically lied to Congress and the public about the Vietnam War. This book makes the same charge against the Bush and Obama administrations.

In recent days, the Iranian regime brutally cracked down on protests in Esfahan province against growing water shortages. Some observers argue that the origins of the water crisis in Iran are climate change and a drastic drop in precipitation. However, the reasons for the crisis go deeper.

Matt Anderson spoke about the situation of Middle Eastern Christians during our annual conference.

In this episode, the editors discuss articles about Alasdair MacIntyre’s recent talk about human dignity, whether according to international law Afghanistan was a US ally before the Taliban takeover, and on the possibility of an end-of-war declaration with North Korea.

In response to the astonishing fall of Kabul and sudden capitulation of the Afghan government, President Joe Biden ordered Operation Allies Welcome. But did it follow international law?