Historical Amnesia vs. Collective Memory
History Daniel Stoker History Daniel Stoker

Historical Amnesia vs. Collective Memory

The current war between the US and Iran has opened a pandora’s box concerning the future of Iran. Given the history of Iran and its neighbors, it is highly unlikely that this conflict yields a net positive result. It is also true that we won’t know the full impact of this war, for good or for bad, for years to come. The war has already resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled the country since 1987. However, if this war is going to bear fruit, at some level, Trump’s historical amnesia will have to overcome Iranians’ collective memory.

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We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
Daniel Stoker Daniel Stoker

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

Two weeks ago the US bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran riding the coattails of Israel’s air campaign that decapitated much of the Islamic Republic’s senior military leadership and decimated its air defenses. Over the past two weeks, much of the US foreign policy establishment debated the efficacy of the strikes and what they mean for the future of regional security. President Trump triumphantly claimed that the US had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program. A preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency leaked to the press assessed that the bombings had only set back Iran’s program a few months. Later in the week, the CIA released a more detailed report that said Iran’s program had been pushed back years. A chorus of analysts, pundits, and public activists have all weighed in on the matter with varying assessments shaded by personal bias. What is missing from many of these assessments is the humility and willingness to admit what we don’t know.

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Making Sense of Trump’s Gaza Plan
Current Events Daniel Stoker Current Events Daniel Stoker

Making Sense of Trump’s Gaza Plan

On Tuesday evening, President Trump announced that the U.S. would take ownership of and rebuild Gaza while relocating the enclaves roughly 2.3 million inhabitants elsewhere. Previously the president had floated the idea of relocating Gazans to Egypt and Jordan to which Arab governments have flatly rejected. Trump’s announcement prompted a flurry of praise, criticism, and questions including: Was he serious?, Is this feasible?, What is the price tag? Who will live in Gaza after reconstruction?

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