Winthrop Rodgers

The Vision Behind the US Consulate in Erbil Is Dissolving A year after American diplomats were supposed to move in, it is no longer clear that the complex will serve its original purpose

This continues to be the case with the end of USAID, Iraq's changing politics, and questions about the continued US military presence. There will always be space for diplomatic work, but does it align with a vision that is now more than a decade old?
newlinesmag.com/reportage/th...

The Vision Behind the US Consulate in Erbil Is Dissolving A year after American diplomats were supposed to move in, it is no longer clear that the complex will serve its original purpose

The new US consulate compound in Erbil is set to open very soon. Almost 2 years ago, I wrote for @newlinesmag.bsky.social that the US will remain important in the Kurdistan Region, but the "purposes, intentions and significance embodied in the new buildings are no longer as relevant."

Exclusive: US to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say U.S. official sources told Reuters covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action.

Exclusive: US to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say reut.rs/4oekAL4

this could mean several different things, none of which are reassuring

Amber Czech was murdered at work. Tradeswomen say it could have happened to any of them. The 20-year-old welder’s killing by her coworker has prompted women in trades across the country to speak out about the harassment they face and the protections they need.

The 20-year-old welder’s killing by her coworker has prompted women in trades across the country to speak out about the harassment they face and the protections they need.

NEW from me for @amwajmedia.bsky.social : Kurdish parties will be intimately involved in Iraq’s post-election govt formation process, but will likely not play as decisive a role as in past cycles. Necessity for a broad coalition and dysfunction between KDP & PUK will dilute their influence.

‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan stepped in

‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music

We’ll never forget Jamal Khashoggi, and we advise those who care about free speech and a free press to do the same.

It’s been a pretty busy couple of days all things considered! Our priority now is to meet with civic leaders to discuss how this affects our business.

We will also be calling for public consultations with both the indie businesses and the wider community of Leith regarding future Newkirkgate plans.

Anger as Waterstones snaps up prime site on doorstep of independent bookshop UK's biggest bookselling chain under fire over plans for new store beside Edinburgh tram line.

We need your help.

@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.

Please read on for more information

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...

(1/2)

Meta wins monopoly trial, convinces judge that social networking is dead People are “bored” by their friends’ content, judge ruled, siding with Meta.

Meta's court victory yesterday marks an end to years of FTC fights intended to break up the company's family of apps.

"Dig that old We’re On The March With Ally’s Army t-shirt out of the loft – Scotland are going to the World Cup."👉 www.heraldscotland.com/spor...

Iraq scored a penalty 17 minutes into stoppage time to claim a dramatic 2-1 home win over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday and secure a 3-2 aggregate playoff victory over their neighbours that keeps the country's World Cup qualification dream alive.
www.reuters.com/sports/socce...

Report on Scottish higher education sector’s support for conflict settings The Royal Society of Edinburgh addresses the timely and pressing question: How can the Scottish higher education sector support colleagues and institutions in conflict settings?

Report on Scottish higher education sector’s support for conflict settings rse.org.uk/report-on-sc...

Iraq votes, but who governs? The post-election bargaining begins The election delivered orderly polling but a fractured parliament, leaving Iraq’s power brokers to hash out alliances behind closed doors

NEW from me in @thenewarab.bsky.social : A flattened and fractured landscape after the Iraqi parliamentary elections will lead to complex bargaining over the next government, which may take some time to form.
www.newarab.com/analysis/ira...

The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.

SCOOP: Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer who previously represented the Tate brothers before joining the White House, chided authorities for seizing the brothers’ devices, saying it was not a good use of time or resources. He told DHS officials to give them back.

“We don’t have a democracy without an informed public. We don’t have an informed public without a free press,” Rose said.
- @adamrose.bsky.social

The American Revolution | All Episodes Now Streaming | Ken Burns | PBS Thirteen colonies unite in rebellion, win their independence, and found the United States. Stream the full documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.

Benjamin Franklin as quoted in Ken Burns’ new American Revolution documentary on @pbs.org: “Suppose a military force sent into America; they will find nobody in arms; what are they then to do?…They will not find a rebellion; they may indeed make one.”
www.pbs.org/kenburns/the...

Sulaimani turns 241 today. Such a wonderful city.

No real alternative: The failure of opposition parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region Politics in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region is centered on the ruling duopoly of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Other political parties — broadly referred to ...

For a more thorough look at the landscape (from a year ago), check out my piece for MEI:
www.mei.edu/publications...

Kurdistan's opposition win about a third of the seats in each election since 2018. But it's like a closed system: relative changes happen in terms of power balance between the parties within that box, but it does not expand beyond that.

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

I was with a group of Peshmerga when news broke that Kurdish oil exports would resume. For officials, this was cause for celebration. But ordinary people have long memories of high hopes and unfulfilled promises. They said:

"هەمان تاس و حەمامە"
"Same old, same old"

Long read for @inkstickmedia.com

Equal No More: The Breakdown of Power-Sharing in Iraqi Kurdistan The erosion of the ‘50-50’ principle of splitting power between Iraqi Kurdistan’s main political parties could have serious consequences for the future of the region.

The balance between the KDP and the PUK used to be defined by a "50-50" power sharing arrangement, but it has become increasingly asymmetrical in favor of the KDP. Yet the PUK's power in Sulaimani cannot be ignored. My piece for @rusi.bsky.social remains relevant:
www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Connolly inaugurated as 10th President of Ireland Follow live updates as Catherine Connolly is officially sworn in as the tenth President of Ireland.

#Breaking Catherine Connolly has signed the Declaration of Office at St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle to formally become the tenth President of Ireland | Follow Live

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling parties spent years fighting oppression and violence at the hands of the central government in Baghdad. Decades after gaining semiautonomous rule, though, everyday people in the region say their disillusionment runs deep.

By: @wrodgers2.bsky.social

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

I was with a group of Peshmerga when news broke that Kurdish oil exports would resume. For officials, this was cause for celebration. But ordinary people have long memories of high hopes and unfulfilled promises. They said:

"هەمان تاس و حەمامە"
"Same old, same old"

Long read for @inkstickmedia.com

Tomorrow, Iraqis head to the polls in a pivotal election that could test Iraq's stability. Which bloc is the frontrunner in the race? How might the balance of power shift – and what’s at stake for reform and Iraq’s regional position?

Read the latest #IraqInitiative analysis ↓

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

As @wrodgers2.bsky.social explains, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is no different - people struggle with much of the same issues of corruption, political patronage and disillusionment. Read his analysis: inkstickmedia.com/in-iraqi-kur...

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

هەمان تاس و حەمامە
Same old, same old

NEW from me with @inkstickmedia.com: With elections across Iraq tomorrow, ordinary Kurds live with dysfunctional governance under the ruling parties and narrowing space for independent politics and civil society.
inkstickmedia.com/in-iraqi-kur...

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the Deep-Seated Politics of Hopelessness Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

Political patronage, corruption, and economic pressures have left Iraqi Kurds with little optimism for the region's future.

#Longread by @wrodgers2.bsky.social

inkstickmedia.com/in-iraqi-kur...