Middle East

Iran’s Riots: Flash in the Pan, or Sign of Things to Come?
- February 14, 2018
The unrest that has erupted across Iran over the last few months never seriously threatened the regime’s hold on power. Though a genuine reflection of the people’s frustration with their lot, the riots were unfocused and leaderless. They lacked the …
By Peter Jones
Democracy, Middle East
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Afghanistan’s Outlook for 2018 and Beyond
- January 29, 2018
The New Year ushers in predictions of what to expect in the coming year, but no predictions are necessary for Afghanistan this past week — the news says it all: three major attacks adding up to hundreds of casualties. Since …
By Nipa Banerjee
Fragile States, International Security, Middle East, Refugees
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“Returned Extremist Travellers”: The Small Numbers Problem for Canada, Part 1
- January 18, 2018
On 21 December, the Public Safety department released the government’s “Terrorist Threat to Canada” report for 2017 to no fanfare and little media attention. If you want something to get no attention, send it out just before the Christmas holidays. …
By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, Human Rights, International Security, Middle East
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“Returned Extremist Travellers”: The Small Numbers Problem for Canada, Part 2
- January 18, 2018
See Part 1 of this blog here.

The key to a successful response to RETs is knowing who they are and when they will reach your shores. Impossible though this seems, real opportunities for identifying the IS fighter cadre …
By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, Human Rights, International Security, Middle East
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Canada’s Foreign Policy “One-Sided,” Not the UN Resolution We Refused to Support
- December 22, 2017
Canada refused to support the UN General Assembly resolution this week that rebuked the Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In doing so, the Trudeau government undermined its claim to be cutting a new foreign policy …
By David Petrasek
Canadian Foreign Policy, Middle East, United Nations, USA
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Commemorating Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries and Iran
- December 5, 2017
On November 30th, the State of Israel commemorates Jewish refugees from Arab Countries and Iran. The date is symbolic in itself, as the previous day, November 29th, marks the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly vote of 1947 that …
By Costanza Musu
Middle East, Refugees
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Ottawa Needs to Re-Evaluate the Mission in Iraq
- November 1, 2017
The Canadian government announced last Friday that it is temporarily suspending its mission to train Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish forces given growing tension between the two sides. Ottawa should take this opportunity to carefully consider its next steps: because of …
By Thomas Juneau
Canadian Foreign Policy, Democracy, International Security, Middle East
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Just Don’t Share, Except With Care
- September 26, 2017
The federal government’s Public Safety Department has just released a bombshell ministerial directive dealing with the sensitive issue of intelligence sharing in cases that might involve torture. This issue has long and delicate roots, reaching back to the terrible case …
By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, International Security, Middle East
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Analyzing Afghanistan, Part 2: Moving Forward
- May 16, 2017
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John Sopko, speaking to CIPS in April, finished his presentation (see part 1 here) by touching on the Afghan government’s over-dependence on aid and inability to pay for and …
By Nipa Banerjee
Fragile States, International Development, Middle East
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Analyzing Afghanistan, Part 1: Lessons from SIGAR
- May 16, 2017
Canada has already invested 15 years, billions of dollars, and over 160 human lives to secure and stabilize the fragile state of Afghanistan. Equivalent efforts, however, have not been made to assess the effectiveness of Canada’s involvement; nor have the …
By Nipa Banerjee
Fragile States, International Development, Middle East
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Trump should try on the velvet glove in dealing with Moscow
- April 15, 2017
Every country in the world, Canada included, is scrambling to catch up to some breathtaking changes in the fundamental approach of the United States to global politics. These changes were prompted by the Trump administration’s reactions to the use of …
By Wesley Wark
Middle East, Russia, USA
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Trump and Syria: After Cruise Missiles, What?
- April 7, 2017
The United States has moved swiftly and dramatically to punish the Syrian regime for its use of chemical weapons against civilians in a recent attack on a rebel-held town in Northern Syria. On Thursday evening, US warships off the coast …
By Wesley Wark
International Security, Middle East, USA
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