Middle East studies in the News

Is Iraq Nearly Rid of al-Qaeda? [on Juan Cole]

by Jonathan Schanzer
Jewish Policy Center Blog
December 29, 2007

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/blog/2007/12/is-iraq-nearly-rid-of-al-qaeda.html

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/4643

Iraq's interior ministry spokesman announced that 75% of al-Qaeda in Iraq was destroyed in 2007, according to today's ash-Sharq al-Awsat. Sharq also has a feature story highlighting the successes of Sunni militias that fight al-Qaeda, and are critical to the US strategy for Iraq stability.

Usama bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader, knows his terrorists are losing ground in Iraq. Al-Jazeera's English website today analyzes his recent audio recording urging Iraqis not to join the US-funded militias fighting his men.

Another person likely concerned by the good news is University of Michigan professor Juan Cole. Cole has a piece in Salon.com that tries to explain how the surge is failing, despite evidence to the contrary. Cole, like bin Laden, has a lot at stake. Chaos in Iraq keeps them both in business. Click here for recent contentions about Cole.

Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.

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