Communism’s bleak reminder of its exclusion from the West came in the form of a wall that divided Berliners for nearly 30 years. (Photo: Vahedderdu via Flickr).
Die Mauer
The New Yorker
By John Bainbridge
From aesthetics to social impacts, John Bainbridge writes in 1961 about life in Berlin immediately after the wall’s construction.
Crossing the Rubicon
Medium
By Jonathan Lesser
Two former Marines who served in Iraq and Afghanistan founded Team Rubicon for veterans wishing to use their military training for disaster relief. The project quickly revealed that helping disaster victims helped veterans cope as well.
A Troubling Letter to an Unbending Ayatollah
The Atlantic
By Jeffrey Goldberg
Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic covers the recent revelation that President Obama sent a personal letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regarding its nuclear program and ISIS. That action raises the question of who wants a nuclear deal more: the Iranians, or the Obama administration?
Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’
The Guardian
By Pete Pattisson
Qatar’s dream of modern buildings filling the skyline and a looming FIFA World Cup is being built in part by North Koreans who say their salaries are a fraction of what they’ve been promised, or not received at all.
This Beautiful Bird Might Thwart the Oil and Gas Industry’s Drilling Plans
New Republic
By Jeffrey Ball
The upcoming decision to include the Gunnison sage grouse on the Endangered Species List could have huge implications for the oil and natural gas industry. The move would give environmentalists more leverage in the argument for preservation.
Blogs:
Mesopotamia at Versailles by Michael Crowley
Developments in America’s Backyard by Richard Basas
Frailty and Gladiatorial Combat in Somalia by Abukar Arman
Zivotofsky v. Kerry: Will Executive Privilege Trump Israel Advocacy? by Paul Mutter
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Islamic State (IS) by Reza Akhlaghi
