In 2004, Middle East expert Joshua Landis followed the advice of an academic colleague at the University of Oklahoma and started a blog called Syria Comment. To his surprise, tens of thousands of people around the world began reading the online material and sent speaking invitations from far and wide.
Landis is scaling back his blogging, but he remains intensely focused on the region through his role as the director of the university's Center for Middle East Studies.
The Civil War in Syria and the Islamic State group's rapid seizure of land in both Syria and Iraq have challenged and confused Western policymakers. One way of understanding what is happening there is to look at Central Europe a half century ago, Landis said.
"During World War II there was a great sorting out," he said. "Poland was 64 percent Polish before World War II; by the end of World War II, it was 100 percent Polish. Czechoslovakia had 32 percent minorities; all of them are gone. This is true right down Central Europe."
Landis said a great sorting out is taking place in the Middle East now as fighters united by a fervent transnational Islamic identity expel Christians, Jews and other minorities and seize territory from traditional rulers.
"All across the Middle East you had secular nationalist leaders," he said. "They are being wiped away, and we are getting a new world of religious nationalism."
Landis said the United States is obligated to help Iraq fight IS because the uprising is a result of the U.S. intervention in that nation, but the goal is far from clear. His advice to policymakers is to intervene less, not more.
"I guess it is a plea for modesty and a bit of a sense that America really cannot control this region," he said.
"Instead of arming various groups," Landis added, "try to keep the various factions from being armed. Convince the Iranians and the Saudis not to send in arms. We shouldn't be doing it ourselves and facilitating it, because the more arms you throw in, the bloodier these civil wars become."
Landis said college students around the United States are signing up for classes on Middle East culture, history and politics partly because of their interest in understanding the strife they see in the news every day.
Vocabulary
seizure:没收;夺取
secular:世俗的;长期的
穷富混居公寓楼的“穷人入口”
苏神上演“咬人帽子戏法”
教你7招提升自己的技能与才华
针对某些学校学生抄作业较为普遍这种现象某英语报社举办以 “Say no to copying homework” 为主题的征文活动,
经典英语美文:We are on a journey
经典英语美文:People in your life
什么是“新人基因”?
经典英语美文:The wisdom of life
分享那些受欢迎的澳洲俚语[1]
Xinhua News
白色谎言 VS 黑色谎言
经典英语美文:Be grateful to life
经典英语美文:If I knew
经典英语美文:Live in the present moment
经典英语美文:Cherish every moment
“相亲谎言”知多少
你的“时间碎片”都去哪儿了?
帮你打造明星衣橱的“衣橱诊断师”
经典英语美文:Industry significance
这八种动作,就是喵星人在说“我爱你”
什么是“快乐饮料”?
什么是“对冲城市”?
挺谁谁出局 滚石主唱被封“世界杯乌鸦嘴”
经典英语美文:Life is a gift
你患过“剧终抑郁症”吗?
创意混搭食品 Frankenfoods
什么都管的“直升机女友”
舌尖上的韩国:韩国美味英文如何表达(组图)[1]
羞愧综合症 cringe attack
聊不完的“办公室八卦”
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |