Middle East Week

Phillip Smyth comes back on the show to discuss Iranian-backed militias and their role in the current crisis in Iraq. Iranian Proxies Step Up Their Role in Iraq - The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Hizballah Cavalcade « JIHADOLOGY Phillip Smyth (PhillipSmyth) on Twitter Karl Morand (KarlMorand) on Twitter

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi comes on the show to discuss the recent operations by ISIS in Iraq, other insurgent groups affecting the situation on the ground, and the interactions between the various Jihadi groups. Redeploy U.S. troops to Iraq: Another view by Aymenn for USA Today Key Updates on Iraq’s Sunni Insurgent Groups :: Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi Aymenn J Al-Tamimi (ajaltamimi) on Twitter Karl Morand (KarlMorand) on Twitter

John Horgan comes on the show to discuss his work studying the psychology of terrorism. The Psychology of Terrorism on Amazon.com John Horgan (Drjohnhorgan) on Twitter Karl Morand (KarlMorand) on Twitter

Joel Wing returns to the show to discuss Iraq’s recent election, the government’s handling of security issues, and Iraq’s continuing budget problems. MUSINGS ON IRAQ Maliki got election assist from Anbar crisis - Al-Monitor Final 2014 Iraqi National Elections Results by Major Political Groups | Institute for the Study of War Iraq Updates Joel Wing (JoelWing2) on Twitter Karl Morand (KarlMorand) on Twitter

Clint Watts comes on the show to discuss his recent “Smarter Counterterrorism” series of articles for FPRI. Selected Wisdom - Smarter Than The Crowd, Stronger Than The Individual Clint Watts | Foreign Policy Research Institute Clint Watts (selectedwisdom) on Twitter Karl Morand (KarlMorand) on Twitter Clint’s FPRI series: Smarter Counterterrorism in The Age of Competing Al Qaeda’s Treating America’s al Qaeda Addiction Jihadi Competition After al Qaeda Hegemony – The ‘Old Guard’, Team ISIS & The Battle For Jihadi Hearts & Minds ISIS’s Rise After al Qaeda’s House of Cards How does the U.S. counter al Qaeda while al Qaeda fights itself?

Karl Sharro comes on the show to discuss presidential politics in Lebanon, background on Lebanon's political blocs, and the role of satire in discussing events in the Middle East.   Links related to this episode can be found at http://middleeastweek.org

Yasmine Ryan comes on the show to discuss Algeria's post-civil war history, the political situation in Algeria, and Algeria's importance in the MENA region.  We also discuss Bouteflika's rise to power and recent re-election as president in Algeria.   Links related to this episode can be found at http://middleeastweek.org

Sama'a Al-Hamdani joins me to discuss the background of Yemen's 2011 revolution, as well as the religious, tribal, and geographic divisions that have shaped events in Yemen.  We also discuss Yemen's economic problems, challenges that Yemeni's face in day-to-day life, and the government's inability to solve the problem of terrorism in Yemen. Links related to this episode can be found at http://middleeastweek.org

Matthew Reed discusses the oil crises in Libya, as well as political problems that post-Qaddafi Libya has faced.  We cover the causes of the oil crisis, its economic effects, the federalist movement in Libya, and the Libyan central government’s lack of control and authority.

J.M. Berger discusses jihadi groups use of Twitter, and social media in general.  Topics include how jihadi organizations and individuals take advantage of the medium, responses of social media companies to terrorist activity on their platforms, and how governments have responded to the growth in social media use by jihadis.  

Toby Matthiesen joins me to discuss sectarian tensions in the Gulf, political problems in the GCC, and US-Saudi relations. He is the author of "Sectarian Gulf: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Spring That Wasn't."

Matt Levitt joins me to discuss Iran's support for international terrorism.  Matt is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow & Director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Aaron Zelin discusses shifting alliances amongst jihadi organizations. The Guidelines: Measuring Zawahiri’s Influence « JIHADOLOGY ISIS’s Rise After al Qaeda’s House of Cards - Part 4 of “Smarter Counterterrorism” | Foreign Policy Research Institute by Clint Watts @azelin on Twitter @KarlMorand on Twitter Please rate the podcast in iTunes Subscribe to the podcast

As the conflict in Syria enters its fourth year I’m joined by Joshua Landis to discuss important issues including: Recent advancements by the Assad regime How the international community views the conflict Fragmentation of opposition forces Rebel governing of territories they control Syria Comment - Syrian politics, history, and religion @Joshua_Landis on Twitter @KarlMorand on Twitter Please review the podcast in iTunes

Elizabeth Dickinson joins me to discuss recent GCC political news, and her work studying private Gulf fundraising for Syrian rebel groups. Thomas Hegghammer returns to the show to talk about jihadi use of internet forums and social media, in particular the interpersonal trust issues jihadis face online. Elizabeth Dickinson How Qatar Lost the Middle East Playing with Fire: Why Private Gulf Financing for Syria’s Extremist Rebels Risks Igniting Sectarian Conflict at Home Who Shot Ahmed? A Mystery Unravels in Bahrain’s Botched Arab Spring (Amazon Kindle Single) @dickinsonbeth on Twitter Thomas Hegghammer Interpersonal Trust on Jihadi Internet Forums (pdf) Jihad in Saudi Arabia (Amazon) @Hegghammer on Twitter Please rate & review the show in iTunes @KarlMorand on Twitter

This week Phillip Smyth joins me to discuss Shia militant groups in Bahrain, and Joel Wing talks with me about the continuing problems in Iraq. Phillip Smyth Hizballah Cavalcade: The Pearl & the Molotov: Bahrain’s Growing Militant Groups « JIHADOLOGY @Phillip Smyth on Twitter Joel Wing Musings On Iraq @JoelWing2 on Twitter Subscribe & review the show in iTunes @KarlMorand on Twitter

This week we have Elias Muhanna talking about the new government in Lebanon and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross discussing Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia. Elias Muhanna Lebanon’s New Government (Feb 15, 2014) | Qifa Nabki A New Government in Lebanon Hopes to Keep the Syrian Conflict Away : The New Yorker @QifaNabki on Twitter Daveed Gartenstein-Ross An Escalation in Tunisia: How the State Went to War with Ansar al-Sharia Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia’s Shift to Jihad @DaveedGR on Twitter Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes Subscribe to the show via RSS @KarlMorand on Twitter

I’m Karl Morand, host of the Middle East Week podcast. The show has been on a hiatus for a couple of months, but I’m happy to say that over the next few weeks I’ll be relaunching the show as a part of a new site being launched by Eliot Higgins, the creator of the Brown Moses Blog. The show will be similar to it’s previous format, but with two changes: instead of one interview per show, each episode will have 2-3 separate interviews covering different topics related to current events in the Middle East. Also, the show will have a much more regular schedule, with new episodes being released weekly. The shows will still focus on in-depth discussion and analysis on important issues in the region, but with a regular release schedule each episode will be more topical than before. New episodes will continue to be released via this RSS feed, so if you are already subscribed to the podcast you don’t have to do anything; the new episodes will show up as soon as they are released. Until the

Pieter Van Ostaeyen and Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi join me to discuss the various rebel groups in Syria. We talk about recent rebel group mergers, fighting amongst rebel groups, their interaction with local communities, foreign fighters joining the rebels, and much more. Pieter’s Blog Aymenn’s Blog Pieter on Twitter @p_vanostaeyen Aymenn on Twitter @ajaltamimi

Joel Wing, author of the Musings On Iraq Blog, joins me to discuss the current security, political, and economic situation in Iraq. Links: Aswat Al Iraq National Iraqi News Agency All Iraq News Agency Joel Wing @JoelWing2 Karl Morand @KarlMorand Please rate & review the show in iTunes