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Browse: Home » Middle East » Page 4
He’s made the Middle East worse: Let’s be honest, Obama bears as much responsibility for this mess as predecessors who shaped them

He’s made the Middle East worse: Let’s be honest, Obama bears as much responsibility for this mess as predecessors who shaped them

January 6, 2016 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Decades of poorly concocted policies with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and others haunt us — and worsen every day It is all there now for us to see. Decades of cynical, poorly devised policy in the Middle East, vacant of…

It’s Paul Krugman vs. Noam Chomsky: This is the history we need to understand Paris, ISIS

It’s Paul Krugman vs. Noam Chomsky: This is the history we need to understand Paris, ISIS

November 17, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Krugman mocks idea that US imperialism’s at root of all evil. But scars of our meddling are key to the Middle East Two remarks a few days apart lead straight to the question posed in this space after last Friday’s tragic events…

We brought this on ourselves: After Paris, it is time to square our “values” with our history

We brought this on ourselves: After Paris, it is time to square our “values” with our history

November 15, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

The West’s behaved horrifically in Middle East for decades. We can’t be surprised by Paris. Let’s look in a mirror Another horrific attack emanates from the shattered, shredded Middle East into the beating hearts of Western civilization. It is impossible…

Putin might be right on Syria: The actual strategy behind his Middle East push — and why the New York Times keeps obscuring it

Putin might be right on Syria: The actual strategy behind his Middle East push — and why the New York Times keeps obscuring it

October 14, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

There’s actually common sense and historical vision behind the Putin plan. Not that our media covers it honestly One sentence in a news report the other day on Russia’s assertive new campaign to subdue Islamic extremists in Syria simply will…

Why Europe’s Migrant Crisis Also Belongs to America

Why Europe’s Migrant Crisis Also Belongs to America

September 7, 2015 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Now that the flood of migrants into Europe has reached truly historic proportions, it’s time to acknowledge this as a moment of transformation—and not only in Europe. We’ve all seen the images, watched the television footage, and read the news…

Our monumental Turkey blunder: Who put the American exceptionalists back in charge?

Our monumental Turkey blunder: Who put the American exceptionalists back in charge?

July 28, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Take a hard, careful look at what the hawks in the Obama administration—and it is crawling with them—have just done by bringing Turkey into the fight against the Islamic State. Given the blur the campaign against ISIS has become, with…

Obama’s Middle East Mess and How to Clean It Up

Obama’s Middle East Mess and How to Clean It Up

March 30, 2015 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

“I think what we’re seeing is a rerun of the Iran/Iraq war” Kerry said, “We have to negotiate with Assad.” Yes that Assad. The U.S. Backs Sunnis, no Shiites, no Saudis, no Iranians…Huh? This has to be a singular moment…

Five Reasons to Listen to Hassan Rouhani

September 30, 2014 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Why should the watching world, and especially we wary Americans, trust Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s charismatic new reformist, now that he has completed what the more suspicious among us call his “charm attack” at the United Nations? There are answers, even…

An Obama Failure with Iran Seems Inevitable

An Obama Failure with Iran Seems Inevitable

September 29, 2014 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

A year ago, under skies as sunny as we’ve had lately, Iran’s just-elected president, Hassan Rouhani, had his premiere at the United Nations and popped open the door to a settlement on his nation’s nuclear program and a cooperative relationship…

Obama Makes the Middle East Our New ‘Quagmire’

Obama Makes the Middle East Our New ‘Quagmire’

August 18, 2014 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Quagmire” is a term commonly associated with Vietnam, but we need to haul it out of storage. There is no other way to describe the mess the Obama administration has led us into in the Middle East. President Obama and…

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Writer, commentator, longtime newspaper and magazine correspondent abroad. Writes often on Europe and Asia. Published five books.

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  • PATRICK LAWRENCE: History Turned in Beijing May 18, 2026
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  • “Dignity in a West Bank refugee camp.” May 16, 2026

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