Mesopotamia and more...

CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

Shall we only threaten and be angry for an hour? 

    When the storm is ended shall we find 

How softly but how swiftly they have sidled back to power 

    By the favour and contrivance of their kind? 

from Mesopotamia by Rudyard Kipling

READ

American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant NONFICTION 

AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: The Heroic Century of the French Foreign Legion NONFICTION

I Only Wanted to Live: The Struggle of a Boy to Survive the Holocaust NONFICTION

MIDDLE EAST

The horrors of urban warfare 

Cherry Picking Intelligence For War in the Middle East? Here We Go Again

Trump’s Gift to Putin in the Mideast OPINION

Middle East turmoil is disrupting a vital resource for nuclear energy, space flight and birthday balloons

Tillerson thinks all the countries in the region need to do more to stop money from flowing to terrorists, and considers the dispute a diversion keeping everybody from focusing on how to counter terrorism and isolate Iran. By signing the agreement just before leaving for Saudi Arabia, he was sending the message that the United States considers combating terrorism the most important issue — and that the countries at odds with Qatar need to concentrate on that instead of getting mired in regional disputes.

AFGHANISTAN

A Mercenary-Led Surge Won’t Solve Afghanistan 

Mattis on new Afghanistan strategy: 'We are pretty close'

Back in Afghan Hot Spot, U.S. Marines Chase Diminished Goals

GENERAL NICHOLSON STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF THE THIRD ISIS-K EMIR BY U.S. AND AFGHAN FORCES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS 

UN: Civilian deaths in Afghanistan hit new record high

PAKISTAN

DoD Report: Pakistan is Reason for Afghanistan Stalemate 

Pakistan’s Proudly Double-Dealing Intelligence Service

Pakistan’s Double Game, Unpacked

Pakistan’s ISI: The True Deep State

A corruption crisis rocks the most dangerous country in the world

IRAN

Israeli Lawmaker: Iran’s Fingerprints Are Everywhere 

Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015)

U.S. slaps new sanctions on Iran, after certifying its compliance with nuclear deal

With U.S. scholar’s conviction, power struggle escalates between Iran’s president and hard-liners

Iran's Foreign Minister Warns Donald Trump That Tehran Can Abandon the Nuclear Deal

QATAR

Qatar crisis raises questions about defining terrorism 

Qatar: Rex Tillerson to fly to Kuwait in effort to defuse crisis

Qatar Crisis: Worst Case Scenarios

The secret documents that help explain the Qatar crisis

Translation of agreements Updated

SAUDI ARABIA

Trump Calls On Muslim World To ‘Drive Out’ Extremists — Barely Mentions Jews Or Israel 

On Saudi Arabia breaking ties with Qatar

PALESTINE

Gaza end game? 

How to save Gaza: A Palestinian American argues it’s time to bring in the UN and stop blaming Israel

ISRAEL

Why Regional Dynamics Open the Door for Jordan-Israel Cooperation

Why Has Israel’s Right Wing Turned On Trump Envoy Jason Greenblatt?

The Trump-Putin Syria Ceasefire Puts Russia On Israel’s Border OPINION

SYRIA

The Toll of War: The Economic and Social Consequences of the Conflict in Syria 

Trump’s Syria Ceasefire Is Doomed

Netanyahu accidentally reveals Israel has struck Iran-backed fighters in Syria 'dozens of times'

TURKEY

Turkish wire Anadolu published this map showing US bases in Syria. The US-led coalition in response slammed the story as irresponsible 

Turkey's 'Iron Lady' Meral Aksener Is Getting Ready to Challenge Erdogan

One year after coup attempt, Turkey is still battling terrorism

The UK Granted Spy Tech Export to Turkey Amid Its Massive Crackdown on Dissent

WHIMSEY

This Ancient Citadel Looks Like a Giant Sandcastle 

These ancient windmills are still in use after 1,000 years

Judean Date Palm Methuselah

ADDICTION

despite-trump-promises-white-house-falling-short-in-opioid-fight 

‘It’s raining needles’: Drug crisis creates pollution threat

THE AMERICAN OPIOID CRISIS: A READING LIST

NOTE: The news sources here vary.  Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here.  This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased.  Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value.  Thank you.