Category Archives: Middle East

Bombs Over Tehran

Posted on June 23, 2025 by nathanalbright

Earlier today someone asked me how the passage in Deuteronomy 21 regarding God avenging the blood of the innocent dealt with the victims of war. My first thought was that it didn’t. Since the beginnings of history, we have realized … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The British Role In Operation Shader

Posted on February 4, 2025 by nathanalbright

The Royal Air Force (RAF) plays a crucial role in Operation Shader, the UK’s contribution to the fight against Daesh (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. Here’s a breakdown of their involvement, with a focus on their operations from Cyprus: RAF … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Druze: A Distinctive Middle Eastern Community

Posted on December 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

The Druze community represents a fascinating example of religious and cultural distinctiveness in the Middle East, with origins dating back to the 11th century CE. Their faith emerged during the Fatimid Caliphate when a group of Ismaili Muslims, led by … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Conditions For Refugee Repatriation After Conflicts: A Historical Analysis

Posted on December 10, 2024 by nathanalbright

The return of refugees to their homelands represents a complex phenomenon that requires multiple stabilizing conditions to occur successfully. Historical analysis reveals several key patterns in refugee repatriation following major conflicts and crises. The post-World War II period provides one … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Designing A Federal System For Syria

Posted on December 9, 2024 by nathanalbright

A federal system in Syria would need to carefully account for the complex ethno-religious demographics and historical power dynamics that have shaped the nation. The primary challenge lies in developing a system that can accommodate diverse groups while maintaining territorial … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Musings | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Side By Side

Posted on July 20, 2024 by nathanalbright

Side By Side: Parallel Histories Of Israel-Palestine, edited by Sam Adwan, Dan Bar-On, Evil Naveh Prime If I think this book is praiseworthy, it is on somewhat modest terms. This book deserves praise for its existence far more than its … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, History, International Relations, Middle East | Leave a comment

Book Revie: Carving Up The Globe

Posted on July 13, 2024 by nathanalbright

Carving Up The Globe: An Atlas Of Diplomacy, by Malise Ruthven, General Editor When we think of the saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” we normally think of this statement as meaning that we should not think poorly … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, History, International Relations, Middle East | Tagged | Leave a comment

Implausible Deniability

Posted on April 19, 2024 by nathanalbright

From time to time it is important to remember that denial is not only a river that runs through Egypt, but a river that potentially runs through every human heart and mind. Such is the case, it would appear, with … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Middle East, Musings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: All Strangers Are Kin

Posted on April 16, 2024 by nathanalbright

All Strangers Are Kin: Adventures In Arabic And The Arab World, by Zora O’Neill My generally positive review of this book that I give is dependent on my reading of the author’s self-presentation as being deliberately critical. To the extent … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Middle East | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Escalatory Retaliation, Or How History Feels When It Is Being Written

Posted on April 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

I happened to glance at my phone as I was getting ready to leave services and go to dinner, and found that on both Skype and Telegram, a dear friend of mine (who happens to live near the center of … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International Relations, Middle East, Military History, Musings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment