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

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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%
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abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · Jul 28
“this book clearly explains how American militarists, Middle Eastern autocrats, and Israeli extremists drive the pain and dislocation we have endured for three-quarters of a century. It is a pain that grows only more intense with each passing year.” - Rami Khouri

arabcenterdc.org/resource/mar...
Marc Lynch, America’s Middle East: The Ruination of a Region
For decades, Marc Lynch has been a pioneer among US political scientists working on the Middle East. This book attests not only to his expertise, knowledge, and analytical skills, but also to his appr...
arabcenterdc.org

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1h
I hate these endless emails and texts so much I have to assume that they are all actually Republican ops to suppress turnout and make people refuse to donate to Dems.

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4h
The wild wild “Qatargate scandal” in Israel gets the New Yorker treatment. Always worth keeping this sort of thing in mind when you see stories online about, well, most things.

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Israel’s Qatargate Scandal
Did Benjamin Netanyahu’s aides peddle influence to a foreign power?
www.newyorker.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 4h
The legendary Pusha T show in DC where he showed up 5 hours late and performed for 20 minutes. The DJ hosting the event was cycling local acts back on stage to fill the time and the crowd got real real ugly. A few of the Twitter-era foreign policy folks were there, so tweeting at each other was fun.
elizabethbitmeehan.com Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 4h
In a hater mood this morning - what’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to

mine is hall & oates about a decade ago

Reposted by Marc Lynch

elizabethbitmeehan.com
Elizabeth (Bit) Meehan, PhD @elizabethbitmeehan.com · 4h
In a hater mood this morning - what’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to

mine is hall & oates about a decade ago

Reposted by Marc Lynch

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 4h
Thick smoke seen near Riyadh airport after air-raid alerts in Saudi capital
Thick smoke seen near Riyadh airport after air-raid alerts in Saudi capital
Authorities also issued warnings for Jeddah and Yanbu, a major industrial port and home to vital oil facilities Flames and a large plume of black smoke were seen rising above Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday after the government sent air-raid alerts to citizens by phone overnight warning of aerial attacks. Explosions were heard in the capital and firefighters battled to extinguish the flames of a burning fuel tank emblazoned with the logo of the Saudi oil company Aramco near the city’s King Khalid international airport. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 5h
On a long train ride with a toddler mid-potty training and no clean clothes or diapers left, someone alert that person who writes about profiles in courage

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Juan Cole

newsguy.bsky.social
Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social · 5h
Smoke and flames seen near Riyadh airport, causing major flight disruptions as Iran-backed Houthis launch suicide drones targeting Saudi infrastructure. gulfnews.com/world/mena/trump...
Trump signs Russia-Iran sanctions law; Saudi Arabia on alert amid Houthi threat
New US law expands sanctions on Russia and Iran, targets shadow oil fleet and major buyers, while Saudi Arabia responds to Houthi strikes and regional tensions.
gulfnews.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 9h
Transregional Middle East and Africa isn’t just for academic collections anymore (it never was)

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/yemen-and-th...
Yemen and the transregional Saudi-UAE conflict
I am currently at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York for a fantastic workshop on Sudan organized by the Program on African Social Research bringing together a genuinely spectacular group of more tha...
abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io

Reposted by Marc Lynch

theguardian.com
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 10h
Pact with Saudi Arabia threatens to draw Pakistan into Middle East conflict
Pact with Saudi Arabia threatens to draw Pakistan into Middle East conflict
Activation of mutual defence agreement by Riyadh as fighting with Houthis escalates would have wide-reaching repercussions for Islamabad As he stood in Riyadh last September, the world looked like a very different place for Pakistan’s most powerful man, Gen Asim Munir. The country’s army chief was there to witness the signing of a historic defence pact with Saudi Arabia, which he had personally orchestrated with the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Steve Peers

joshuafoust.com
Joshua Foust 🪖🎮 @joshuafoust.com · 20h
It should be illegal to buy a company with debt and then sell it off to a foreign owner, but that fight was lost long ago. Anyway, now the Saudis own a truly distressing portion of American entertainment, from Hollywood to Video Games to Sports. This is not neutral behavior. Anyway.
FCC lets Paramount sell 49.5% equity stake to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar
FCC rejects concerns about repressive governments buying influence over CBS owner.
arstechnica.com

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Marc Lynch, Steve Peers , and 11 more

jasonleopold.bsky.social
Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 22h
HUGE EXCLUSIVE from @bloomberg.com
Inside the US ‘Kill Chain’ That Destroyed an Iranian School

Pentagon investigators discovered that flawed intel, outdated imagery & overreliance on AI contributed to a missile strike that killed 123 children in Minab
🎁 www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Inside the US ‘Kill Chain’ That Destroyed an Iranian School
Pentagon investigators have discovered that flawed intelligence, outdated imagery and an overreliance on AI contributed to a missile strike that killed 123 children in Minab.
www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

roryjohnston.bsky.social
Rory Johnston @roryjohnston.bsky.social · 23h
🛢️ OIL CONTEXT WEEKLY 🛢️

Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline entirely offline this week and will remain throttled for a month or more, pushing Riyadh headlong into the Hormuz dark trade, while diesel prices rose above $220/bbl.

Summary below, full report in reply.

Reposted by Marc Lynch

middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social
Middle East Eye (Unofficial) @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social · 1d
US lifts sanctions on Eritrea with Red Sea in focus - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-lifts-sanctions-eritrea-red-sea-focus
US lifts sanctions on Eritrea with Red Sea in focus
Proximity to Yemen puts Asmara at centre of growing strategic competition over Red Sea, amid Houthi military offensive
www.middleeasteye.net

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
Who is the imagined audience for this? Who thought “wow bringing Watchmen into the DC universe worked so well, we must now see if Miracleman is stronger than the Hulk.”

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
“three powerful processes shaping regional order at this moment: the failure of the United States to defeat Iran or protect its Arab allies, the Saudi-Emirati conflict, and the rapid erosion of the artificial divides between the Middle East and Africa.”

foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/18/h...
The Houthi Advance Is About More Than Just Iran
The Saudi-Emirati rivalry is driving moves across the region.
foreignpolicy.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
My new piece reads the Houthi offensive through more than Iran, adding crucial context of the Saudi-UAE conflict and the rapid growth of transregional lines of conflict, featuring Somaliland, Eritrea and… Algeria.

foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/18/h...
The Houthi Advance Is About More Than Just Iran
The Saudi-Emirati rivalry is driving moves across the region.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

publicbooks.bsky.social
Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d
“A ceasefire may be signed. Borders may reopen. But violence is no longer something that happens. It is something the environment becomes.”
www.publicbooks.org/the-uninhabi...
The Uninhabitable Front - Public Books
“Israeli military aircraft flew low over the Lebanese villages of Ras Naqoura and Aita al-Shaab, spraying agricultural fields with a fine mist... Within days, the green of fields, orchards, and olive…
www.publicbooks.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

dustinvolz.bsky.social
Dustin Volz @dustinvolz.bsky.social · 1d
New: Iran, China and firms in Israel have been spotted creating fully autonomous A.I. influence campaigns www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/t...
Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns (Gift Article)
The countries, along with Israeli firms, combined Chinese open-source A.I. models and A.I. agents for the campaigns, foreshadowing future online manipulation.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

paleofuture.bsky.social
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 1d
“Saudi Aramco told at least two oil refining customers in Europe that they will be allocated no crude oil next month after the kingdom’s key pipeline to the Red Sea was attacked…”
Saudis Tell European Refiners They’ll Get No Crude Next Month
Saudi Aramco told at least two oil refining customers in Europe that they will be allocated no crude oil next month after the kingdom’s key pipeline to the Red Sea was attacked, people informed of the...
www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Rebecca Tushnet, Richard M. Carpiano

nbcphiladelphia.com
NBC10 Philadelphia @nbcphiladelphia.com · 1d
ICYMI: Possible measles exposure reported at the NICU at CHOP in Philadelphia, officials say
Possible measles exposure reported at the NICU at CHOP in Philadelphia, officials say
Health officials say that a possible measles exposure was reported in the NICU at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia last week.
trib.al

Reposted by Marc Lynch

aronlund.bsky.social
Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 1d
”A Saudi source quoted by Israel’s Kan said that even if Jerusalem were to provide assistance against the Houthis, Riyadh would not agree to normalize ties without a resolution of the Palestinian issue. www.timesofisrael.com/saudis-repor...
Saudis reportedly won’t budge on Israel normalization, even as they seek help against Houthis
Regional officials say kingdom is asking allies for aid in defense against missile and drone attacks from Yemen as interceptors run low, though there have yet to be signs of military support
www.timesofisrael.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
Miracleman joining the Marvel Universe is so stupid and even offensive. Why?

www.marvel.com/articles/com...
Miracleman Joins Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’s ‘Avengers’ #1
Check out new covers for ‘Avengers’ #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto, on sale November 4, featuring the final member of the team, Miracleman!
www.marvel.com

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 1d
Giggling in Abu Dhabi

abuaardvark.bsky.social
Abu Aardvark @abuaardvark.bsky.social · 2d
Interesting

Reposted by Marc Lynch

pomeps.bsky.social
POMEPS @pomeps.bsky.social · 2d
POMEPS is pleased to announce a call for papers for the Weaponized Citizenship and Statelessness Workshop, a joint initiative with the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. More information and application available here:
pomeps.org/call-for-pap...
Call for Papers: Weaponized Citizenship and Statelessness - Project on Middle East Political Science
POMEPS & MENA Initiative Workshop, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University Workshop Date: Friday, March 26, 2027 While citizenship is often understood as a source of rights and protection, ...
pomeps.org

Reposted by Marc Lynch

gonultol.bsky.social
Gönül Tol @gonultol.bsky.social · 2d
📣OUT NOW: The Horn and Middle Powers: Entanglement, Competition, and Perception

A new AtrocitiesWatch report examines how Turkey, the UAE, Egypt and other regional powers are reshaping the region’s wars, alliances and politics. Read my chapter on Turkish-Israeli rivalry in the Horn here:.👇

Reposted by Marc Lynch

aronlund.bsky.social
Aron Lund @aronlund.bsky.social · 2d
“China has privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen's Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia (…), according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.”

@phreuters.bsky.social, @reuters.com: www.reuters.com/world/china/...
EXCLUSIVE: China presses Iran to help rein in Houthis after Saudi appeal, sources say
China has privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen's Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the Iran-backed group's military blitz in the past week, according to three Irania...
www.reuters.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Juan Cole

stelhami.bsky.social
Shibley Telhami @stelhami.bsky.social · 2d
Top Democrat Places Hold on $2.8 Billion Weapons Sale to Israel

www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026...
Top Democrat places hold on $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel
Rep. Gregory Meeks put major procedural hurdles to block the widely contested sale, saying the Trump administration failed to assure Congress that Israel would use the weapons in accordance with U.S. ...
www.haaretz.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch, John Marston

premthakker.bsky.social
Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 2d
BREAKING: Human rights and anti-war organizations are launching a campaign to demand the top Biden officials who promoted or lied about the Gaza genocide be boxed out from future Democratic administrations and other liberal spaces.

Rashida Tlaib & Chris Rabb signed on.
More expected to join.
EXCLUSIVE: Biden’s Genocide Accomplices Targeted by New Accountability Campaign
#DroptheGenocide20 demands Biden admin aides who enabled the Gaza genocide not be given roles in liberal spaces – like the role it turns out JD Vance pursued in 2016, when he ‘hated’ Trump.
zeteo.com

Reposted by Marc Lynch

crisisgroup.org
Crisis Group @crisisgroup.org · 2d
NEW COMMENTARY | A Pivotal Moment in Uniting Post-Assad Syria

The Syrian Democratic Forces’ official dissolution marks the beginning of a new, critical phase in Syria. Further compromise would set a useful precedent for other parts of the country.
A Pivotal Moment in Uniting Post-Assad Syria | International Crisis Group
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which long enjoyed de facto autonomy in north-eastern Syria, have dissolved. But tensions in the region remain high as talks about integration with the centra...
www.crisisgroup.org