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It’s a new month, but the world’s got a lot of the same problems.
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues to deepen rifts across the Middle East, tensions are spiking between the US, on the one hand, and Iran and its proxy militias, on the other. That’s why, Violet Collins argues [ [link removed] ], the US should consider removing troops from the region — or at least drastically scaling down the scope of its deployments.
When the Academy Awards roll around on March 10, millions will tune in to see who goes home with an Oscar. But a slate of recent films, not only “Oppenheimer,” can also help educate younger generations about the history of nuclear disarmament, Vincent Intondi explains [ [link removed] ].
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“Washington’s Middle East Strategy Is All Cost, No Benefit [ [link removed] ]” by Violet Collins (Feb. 26)
In late January, an Iranian-linked group killed three US troops near the Jordan-Syria border when it launched a drone attack on an American military outpost. As Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip continues and tensions in the Red Sea worsen, it is high time for the US to discuss the withdrawal of its troops from the Middle East — a region where their lives are threatened thanks to ongoing conflicts and instability.
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“Will AI Weapons of War Start Communicating with Each Other? [ [link removed] ]” by Michael Klare (Feb. 26)
Neither side in the debate over artificial intelligence-driven weapons has addressed the most potentially unnerving aspect of using them in battle: the likelihood that, sooner or later, they’ll be able to communicate with each other without human intervention and, being “intelligent,” will be able to come up with their own unscripted tactics for defeating an enemy — or something else entirely.
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“The Suspended Future of Varosha [ [link removed] ]” by Arie Amaya-Akkermans (Feb. 27)
When Cyprus became independent from Britain in 1960, the tensions between the communities escalated rapidly as a result of intercommunal fighting, internal disagreements between political actors, and the increasing pressure of Greece and Turkey. The Turkish invasion in 1974 left some parts of the country in a “suspended future.”
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“Not Just Oppenheimer: Nuclear Disarmament at the 2024 Oscars [ [link removed] ]” by Vincent Intondi (Feb. 27)
The link between Hollywood and nuclear disarmament activism isn't new, but films like “Oppenheimer” have reinvigorated public attention. Thanks to these films, many, especially from this younger generation, are meeting J. Robert Oppenheimer, Bayard Rustin, and Leonard Bernstein for the first time.
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“How the Flow of Small Arms Help Fuel Violence in India’s Manipur [ [link removed] ]” by Monalisa TK (Feb. 28)
When it comes to the insidious impact of small arms, the Indian state of Manipur is a case in point. There, stifled by firearms trafficking, historical narco-insurgency, and age-old tribal warfare, the violence has been persistent — and recently re-erupted — since their outbreak on May 3, 2023.
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“How Central Asian Countries Can Assert Their Identities Through Cuisine [ [link removed] ]” by Natasha Hill (Feb. 28)
While there are many reasons people would want to visit Central Asia — impeccable scenery and vast cultural heritage – one prominent feature stands out: cuisine. Cuisine may be an important part of Central Asian nations’ attempts to balance great power competition, build tourism, and maintain their distinct identities while asserting themselves as key middle-power countries.
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“Deep Dive: How Israeli Readers Imagine Journalists [ [link removed] ]” by Emily Tamkin (Feb. 29)
It is not only true that journalists imagine their audiences. Audiences also imagine their journalists. That, at least, is the case put forth by Ayala Panievsky, Noam Gidrom, and Lior Sheffer in a new paper published in The International Journal of Press/Politics. The case study? Israel.
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“An American Mercenary Resurfaces in the Democratic Republic of Congo [ [link removed] ]” by Michael E. Picard (Feb. 29)
A deployment of 2,500 mercenaries in a mineral-rich region suffering from a worsening conflict to guard mines is cause for concern on its own. But the involvement of Erik Prince, with his deep ties to foreign governments and reputation for conflict profiteering, emphasizes the profound corruption and arms trafficking risks at hand.
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“It's Time for the US to Realign Ukraine Policy [ [link removed] ]” by Ursala Knudsen-Latta and Heather Brandon-Smith (March 1)
After two years of a military-first response that has failed to secure lasting peace, we know war is not the answer. More support for weapons and war will not bring peace. Now is the time for the US to realign its approach and focus on de-escalation.
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From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.

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