Estonia is the best U.S. ally most Americans have never heard of

Posted on by paulrhuard

Estonia, a tiny nation whose population is less than that of Phoenix, Ariz., can show the U.S. why the NATO alliance is in America’s best interest despite President Trump’s criticisms.

In short, Estonia is the best U.S. ally that most Americans have never heard of — they even sent combat forces to Afghanistan where their troops have one of the highest casualty rates per capita of any nation in the NATO contingent.

My piece is long-form news analysis and commentary with reporting that includes interviews with Estonia’s commander-in-chief of their Defense Forces, the commander of their largest land force who is also the EDF’s new chief of staff, a defense ministry official, a former president of Estonia, and two Baltic think tank experts on defense issues involving Estonia and the United States (one is British, the other American).

You can read it here at Arc Digital. 

The Oracle of the Spanish Civil War

Posted on by paulrhuard

Nick Lloyd is a British geographer who works tirelessly to reveal the hidden history of the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona. He leads tours through the city that are captivating despite the grim topic, earning the well-deserved reputation of being a “living museum” of the conflict. Here is my story at Arc Digital on Lloyd, his work, and why many in Spain still want to ignore one of the worst wars of the 20th Century.

If You Think Francisco Franco Is Dead, Think Again

Posted on by paulrhuard

Catalonia carries a burden of history that weighs down politics there to this day. As the region seeks independence from Spain, one name continues to haunt people: Generalissimo Francisco Franco. The fascist dictator is someone everyone in Barcelona knows, but many are still afraid to discuss him and his legacy. Here’s my attempt to make sense out Spain’s fascist past and Catalonia’s hopes for the future in my most recent article at Arc Digital.

Catalans Fear “Franco-lite” from Madrid

Posted on by paulrhuard

IMG_2261In December, I spent nearly three weeks in Barcelona reporting on the parliamentary elections ordered by Madrid after the central government fired the Catalonian government in the wake of the October 1 independence referendum. What emerged was a more complex story. Deeply suspicious of a Spanish political system that they believe is racially and culturally biased against Catalonia, some Barcelonans question what Spain’s real agenda toward the Catalan people might be. There is skepticism about the value of the European Union to the ordinary person. And always –always – there are historical ghosts that still haunt Barcelona and all of Catalonia because of the legacy of a dead tyrant who still shapes Spanish politics to this day: Generalissimo Francisco Franco. Here is my article on Catalans’ hopes and fears regarding independence in the National Interest.

Why It Is Stupid and Immoral for the U.S. to Throw the Kurds Under the Bus

Posted on by paulrhuard

The Kurds are one of the best allies the United States has in the Middle East, second only to Israel in terms of a practical strategic partnership against Islamic extremism in the form of al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIS). So why is the United States letting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq go to Hell in a handbasket? My article at Arc Digital lays out the reasons why Americans should give a damn about the Kurds.

There Is A Special Relationship Between the Kurds and U.S. Special Forces

Posted on by paulrhuard

It’s no secret that Syrian Kurds and Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga are among the staunchest allies the United States has in the fight against Daesh (ISIS). What’s less commonly known is American Special Operations Forces, more commonly known by their acronym SOF, work closely with Kurdish fighters. They are part of an expanding “shadow war” against Daesh that I examine in my latest piece at NRT English.

The Battle for Raqqa Has Begun

Posted on by paulrhuard

Kurdish-led forces have surrounded Raqqa, the de facto capital of Daesh/ISIS in northeastern Syria. Crucial to Daesh because it serves as a nerve-center for planning terrorist attacks abroad, it is also a potent symbol of the jihadists’ efforts to establish a caliphate. 

Since I filed my column on Monday morning events have moved rapidly. Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (pictured above in a Reuters photo) held a media conference Tuesday. SDF spokesman Talal Silo told reporters and fellow fighters the “great battle to liberate the city” will be tough and bloody because Daesh “will die to defend their so-called capital.”

U.S. military officials echo that sentiment. Privately, some say they are hopeful that there might be a quicker outcome because of a better tactical situation than the Iraqi Army faced during the on-going siege of Mosul.

But no one expects Daesh to simply walk away.

 

Trump Takes On Iran

Posted on by paulrhuard

In probably the most statesman-like speech of his presidency, Donald Trump on Sunday called on Muslim nations to unite behind the cause of defeating Islamic extremists around the world. But he didn’t stop there: He called out Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism. That’s a theme that preceded his address before and during his time in Saudi Arabia. My column for NRT English examines how Trump wants to change the narrative about Iran, not about his political woes.

U.S., Iraq inch toward permanent military presence

Posted on by paulrhuard

According to the Associated Press, White House and Iraqi government officials are quietly negotiating increasing the number of U.S. troops deployed to Iraq — a reversal after both the Bush and Obama administrations reduced U.S. forces there.

The attitude can be summed up in a simple phrase now popular with the Trump administration national security team: The U.S. left Iraq too soon. The withdrawal of U.S. troops six years ago authorized under the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement between the U.S. and Iraqi governments led to political chaos and gave Daesh the opportunity to launch its insurgency.

My recent column for NRT English explores the questions raised by this development and continues my coverage of the issue.