A Canberra public servant writes to ask me which online sources I consult for coverage of Iraq and the Gulf states.
My paltry links are below, but since that region is certainly not my specialty, let me put a call out for some crowdsourcing. What are some of the best English-language sites you use for coverage of political, economic and social issues in Iraq and the Gulf? Let's assume my correspondent can find the obvious sources such as major newspapers and TV networks. Stick to specialist and niche sites.
Anyway, here's my list:
- Juan Cole's Informed Comment. Cole was a punching bag for the Right in the early post-9/11 period, but he's proven far more prescient than the neo-cons. You have to allow for some ideological baggage, but he's a smart and experienced analyst, and his blog was a go-to site during Iran's election troubles.
- McClatchy is a relatively unknown but substantial news agency, like Reuters. It has correspondents worldwide who maintain blogs, including in Iraq.
- Gary Sick is another respected American Middle East watcher. I can't vouch for his blog since I haven't read it, but here it is.
- Harvard University's Middle East Strategy project also has a blog — it tends toward op-ed length pieces.
As I say, pretty paltry, and nothing specific on the Gulf. Help me out, readers.
