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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Saudis became skeptical in 2019, when Trump refused to retaliate against Iran for a drone and missile attack on Saudi oil fields. “We start a big fight, then get bored and walk away. It’s like Lucy and the football. They’re feeling like Charlie Brown on the ground.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...

nytimes.com

How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

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AGSI @gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Ending the war became a personal and political imperative for Trump, who seemed almost indifferent to the cost or specifics of the arrangement. As easily as he got into it, he wanted to get out of it. @ibishblog.bsky.social agsi.org/analysis/wil...

agsi.org

Will "Hormuz" be the American "Suez"? - AGSI

The Trump administration has positioned the United States at a crossroads between a new regime of containment against Iran or a historic drawdown of U.S. influence in the Gulf and broader Middle East.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Internal correspondence between IDF commanders reveal deep frustration over the absence of a coherent strategy, and Israeli security officials expressed concern that the growing friction would soon lead to harm to both Israeli soldiers and Lebanese civilians. us18.campaign-archive.com?e=68188fb490

us18.campaign-archive.com

https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?e=68188fb490

____ / ___M ]__ C{ ( o o )} { •• \___ ––––´ You probably found this page because one of our subscribers used Mailchimp to send you an email campaign and you traced a link in th...

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

One of the most lucid, sharpest, and insightful analyses you’ll come across by @ibishblog.bsky.social. Requisite reading for anyone with a, serious, interest in the region.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

agsi.org

Will "Hormuz" be the American "Suez"? - AGSI

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Deceiving the Deceivers: Philby, Maclean, and Burgess by S.J. Hamrick makes a fascinating case that UK intel knew about the Cambridge spies much earlier than admitted and MI6 and the KGB effectively colluded in creating a myth of Kim Philby super spy, who was nothing of the kind.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Israel would be advised to be patient with this delicate situation. But ever since the October 7, 2023, it has taken a hyperaggressive approach toward armed nonstate actors on its borders. My latest for ⁦‪The Atlantic‬⁩ www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

theatlantic.com

Israel Could Have What It Most Wants in Lebanon

It just has to give up territorial ambitions and work with the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Can Qatar Still Mediate After Becoming a Target? From ⁦‪AGSI‬⁩ and by Faisal Al-Hanzab agsi.org/analysis/can...

agsi.org

Can Qatar Still Mediate After Becoming a Target? - AGSI

With Iran, Qatar is balancing dialogue with deterrence.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

The thing about being a normal person cosplaying as a superrich one is that eventually you have to return to earth. I was warned about this painful jolt to the system, akin to taking a single, blissful hit of the best drug and being told you can never have it again. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/t...

nytimes.com

No Lines, No ‘Regular’ People: Flying Ultra-Luxury From Paris

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Based on the principle of typical inverse proportionality wherein outrageous rhetoric disproportionately elides desperate circumstances the gobbledygook in Iran’s statement accepting the ceasefire suggests they’re in even worse condition than I thought. www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026...

tasnimnews.ir

SNSC Issues Statement about Iran’s Victory over Enemies - Politics news - Tasnim News Agency

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Supreme National Security Council issued a statement regarding the US's acceptance of Iran's conditions to end the war.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Rubio does NOT mention: 1) enriched uranium or anything about nuclear weapons; 2) Iranian-backed armed gangs in the Arab world; 3) securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormoz into the foreseeable future with real consequences; 4) regime change. 5) REALLY? www.state.gov/releases/off...

state.gov

Secretary of State Marco Rubio with George Stephanopoulos of ABC Good Morning America - United States Department of State

QUESTION: Let’s talk more about this with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us this morning. Let’s talk about the President’s comments overnight, talking abo...

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Rubio: “Our clear objectives (write them down): 1) destruction of the air force; 2) destruction of the navy; 3) severe diminishing of missile launching capability; 4) destruction of factories so they can’t make more missiles and more drones.” That’s new. Ok, written! www.state.gov/releases/off...

state.gov

Secretary of State Marco Rubio with George Stephanopoulos of ABC Good Morning America - United States Department of State

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

What have we been saying all along? The military at a classified Congressional briefing on Wed:“confirmed once again that THERE IS NO PLAN. They don’t know what they’re doing. They cannot connect their military goals with their strategic goals.” x.com/sethmoulton/...

x.com

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

I tell the Wall Street Journal that attacks on Lebanese Amana gas stations are designed to undercut “Hezbollah by both cutting off its revenue and straining its supporters.“ They’re owned and run by a supporter of the organization and many consider it a front or asset. www.wsj.com/livecoverage...

wsj.com

Why Is Israel Blowing Up Gas Stations in Lebanon?

Israel’s military said it carried out a second wave of strikes targeting gas stations controlled by Hezbollah in Lebanon, escalating attacks on infrastructure it says is used by the Iran-backed milita...

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

American Stalinism: Somebody from the HHS communications team said, “Well, don’t you do this every four years, changing the priorities and things like that?” I said, “Science doesn’t change based on who is in office.” O’Brien will teach you that 2+2 = 5. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

Inside the Turmoil at RFK Jr.’s CDC, as Told by Current and Former Employees

Forty-three current and former C.D.C. employees on the changes they say are replacing science with ideology — and making Americans more vulnerable.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

American Stalinism: Trump issued a flurry of executive orders. No more federal diversity, equity & inclusion, “gender ideology extremism.” identifying pronouns,” “transgender” and “pregnant people.” Hundreds of words flagged and entire pages quickly taken offline. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

Inside the Turmoil at RFK Jr.’s CDC, as Told by Current and Former Employees

Forty-three current and former C.D.C. employees on the changes they say are replacing science with ideology — and making Americans more vulnerable.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Scandalous lack of accountability, typical approach to policing in our benighted country.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

And you have to burn down the village in order to save it. This man is a genius.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Just about everybody attached to this administration is a clear cut racist to one extent or another. Not everybody, but pretty close.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

I’m relieved that he was so careful to distinguish between the regime and the people of Iran.

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DJ @darnich.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Even FOX news...

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Trump said, "I can't tell you what we're doing." Because HE doesn’t know what he’s doing. So obvious. The ad hoc, ad lib war. Pathetic. Worse than 2003. I never thought I’d see something that dumb. But here we are. www.haaretz.com/middle-east-...

haaretz.com

Report: U.S. and Israel strike Iranian missile tunnels to block launchers

One Expert Told CNN That Sealing the Entrances to the Bases and 'Burying' the Launchers Inside Them Has 'Significantly Affected Iran's Ability to Carry Out Launches at a High Rate.' Iranian Reconstruc...

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AGSI @gulfstatesinst.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Gulf Diplomacy: As bombs continue to drop, many countries are pursuing a peaceful resolution as soon as possible, especially the Gulf Arab states, who will likely play a major role as mediators between the warring parties. @ibishblog.bsky.social covered their efforts: agsi.org/analysis/cau...

agsi.org

Caught in the Crosshairs, Gulf Arab Countries Remain Crucial to Peace - AGSI

Though they were unsuccessful in preventing the current conflict, and, as expected, have been dragged into the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran, Gulf Arab countries remain crucial to hopes for…

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Trump Friend Asked ICE to Detain the Mother of His Child Paolo Zampolli, a former modeling agent and a longtime Trump ally, was in a custody battle over his son. An ICE official agreed to help. SO fucking corrupt. Insane! www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/u...

nytimes.com

Trump Friend Asked ICE to Detain the Mother of His Child

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Simon Rosenberg @simonrosenberg.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

"State failure and social collapse in Iran is clearly an acceptable outcome for Israel. The Israelis are ecstatic that they finally got the US to attack Iran ...Trump is being led by Netanyahu" @ibishblog.bsky.social And Anthony Albanese is led by Trump. #auspol podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i...

podcasts.apple.com

Is Israel trying to make Iran a failed state?

Podcast Episode · ABC News Daily · 18 March · 16m

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Israel has a remarkable opportunity for a diplomatic breakthrough in Lebanon. You’d be forgiven for not knowing about this, because both Israel and Hezbollah seem committed instead to a spiraling conflict. My latest for ⁦‪The Atlantic‬⁩ www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

theatlantic.com

Israel Is Missing Its Big Chance in Lebanon

The Lebanese are furious with Hezbollah, but Israel keeps giving it more reasons to fight.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

My conversation with Ksenia Svetlova for ROPES on the perspective of about the war from Beirut, where I have been for the past two months and I still am youtu.be/6XEPI9mpWDQ

youtu.be

ROPESCAST - Episode 45 | From the Heart of Beirut: Hussein Ibish on Israel-Lebanon Relations

YouTube video by ROPESorg

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

More bombs falling on Beirut right now

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

The nationalistic/imperial arrogance that informed the 2003 Iraq war blunder has been replaced by a personalized/patrimonial arrogance that is shaping this insane adventure with Iran, best defined as “Trump’s master plan is precisely to have no plan at all, and loving it.”

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

The US-Israeli war on Iran is far worse than Gulf states feared, prompting rage against Iran, dismay with Washington, and deep and growing suspicion of Israel's regional ambitions. My oped today for ⁦‪Haaretz, because someone has to tell Israelis such things. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026...

haaretz.com

Gulf states now view Israel as an agent of chaos equal to Iran | Opinion

The U.S.-Israeli War on Iran Is Far Worse Than Gulf States Feared, and There's Plenty of Blame to Go Round: Rage Against Iran, Dismay at D.C. and Deep Suspicion of Israel's Regional Ambitions

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Q₉ @q9f.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

What he outlined was nothing less than the framework for all Israeli military activities between March 1948 and the end of the war in 1949. He demonstrated that it had the ethnic cleansing of much of the Palestinian population in the targeted areas essentially hardwired into its implicit logic. The expulsion was no inadvertent happenstance or collateral damage of warfare. It was part of a deliberate plan, and he was the first to demonstrate that conclusively.

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Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

"If you live, live free or die like the trees, standing up", wrote Mahmoud Darwish. Walid Khalidi did just that, to the very end. A moist poignant and fitting obituary by @ibishblog.bsky.social

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Major Israeli bombing attacks in Beirut tonight. Really big ones.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Big Israeli bombs going off in Beirut, very loud and quite intense. Obviously time to go along with the major offensive in the south that is still not being reported on, but is definitely happening as I type.

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The Israeli Air Force is extremely active over Beirut tonight, in a very negative way

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Here’s audio of my interview today with The Current, CBC radio’s excellent national morning news show. My segment begins at about the 8:45 minute mark, but the whole thing is well worth listening to. On the ground in Lebanon youtu.be/ZOaIQtm-VPo?...

youtu.be

On the ground in Lebanon | The Current

YouTube video by CBC News

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Thanks Tom Friedman‬⁩ for this in today’s NYT‬⁩: Ibish summed up Trump’s strategy: “It goes like this: US &Israel bomb and destroy. Then (fill in the blank) Iranians will secure (fill in the blank) political change that will achieve (fill in the blank) US war aims.” www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Trump Has No Idea How to End the War With Iran

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Hussein Ibish @ibishblog.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

nytimes.com

Opinion | Trump Has No Idea How to End the War With Iran

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