Matthew Petti is an independent journalist who worked in Jordan as a 2022–2023 Fulbright fellow.
Palestinian Americans Are Americans, Too
For many in New Jersey, the war in Gaza has brought back painful family history.
Matthew Petti
Latest from Matthew Petti
America's Broken, Lurid View of Foreign Wars
Fixating on atrocities and ignoring the “normal” horrors of war neither helps Americans appreciate the tragedy of war nor gives the dead the dignity they deserve.
Bahrain's Dictatorship Gets More Biden Administration Help
The U.S.-Bahraini security pact is the first step towards a future U.S.-Saudi “mega-deal.” Critics say it violates the U.S. Constitution and aids torturers.
How Middle East Outlets Reframe the News To Fit Their Narrative
Changing phrases to be for or against Israel is part of the job.
In Syria and Turkey, Helping Earthquake Victims Is a Crime
Politicians in Syria, Turkey, and the United States are getting in the way of relief efforts.
Conservative Cancel Culture Comes to Kurdistan
Religious Kurds used social media to shut down a rap concert—and they're swinging their weight around politics, too.
Iran Attempted To Use the World Cup To Stoke Nationalist Pride
And their team wanted nothing to do with politics.
Iran Tries To Coopt and Crush Feminists at the Same Time
After a month of tear gas and beatings and gunfire, Iranians may not be convinced to move on so easily.
Are We Past 'Peak Petrostate'?
It's the economics of energy production that make petrostates more trigger-happy, Emma Ashford argues in Oil, the State, and War.
Do Small Town Cops Need Training in Israeli Counterterror Techniques?
U.S. taxpayers have been paying for training that encourages aggressive policing.
When Professors Do Foreign Policy
What the John Mearsheimer controversy tells us about theory’s role in international affairs.
Does America Need To Be Involved in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?
Neither side needs military aid funded by U.S. taxpayers.
A Declassified Case Against Torture
Retired FBI agent Ali Soufan argues that the agency's thirst for torture made it harder to protect Americans.
Obama Official Still Defends Doctrine That Led to Disastrous Libya Strikes
Anne-Marie Slaughter hasn’t given up on intervention and the “responsibility to protect” doctrine.
The Florida Man Turned Kurdish Militiaman Turned Anti-Trump Vigilante
He fought ISIS and volunteered as a medic for BLM. Now he's been arrested for threats against pro-Trump rioters.
Why Is America Still In Syria?
Trump brought chaos to a region already on the brink, and the unintended consequences of his actions will reverberate for years to come.
The Feds Are Spreading Fake Facts About Fentanyl
While fentanyl is a dangerous drug, it is very difficult to overdose on it through accidental exposure.
The Feds Who Made America's Fentanyl Freakout Worse
Leaked police documents show how U.S. counterterrorism agencies spread myths and panic about fentanyl.
Months After Soleimani's Assassination, Another Strike on Militias in Iraq
Rocket attacks and "precision defensive strikes" will bring us ever closer to truly endless war.
Trump's Quiet War on Iran Gets Loud
The administration has been quietly escalating against Iran and its allies using a selection of counterterrorism laws that allowed it to act without going through Congress or the public.
A Kurdish Experiment in Decentralized Governance
The Kurds of Northern Syria are trying something different, for better or worse.
Iranian Americans Targeted by U.S. Authorities in the Wake of Soleimani's Death
The Trump administration is treating people of Iranian origin like a potential fifth column.
When Border Defense Becomes Border Offense
Militarized borders and military intervention are two sides of the same coin.
The Madcap Scheme to Take Syria's Oil
American troops are risking their lives to defend Syrian oil fields, but U.S. law is stopping anyone from using the oil. One man tried to “fix” the situation—or was it a con?
From Turkey to Cuba to Mexico to America: A Kurdish Refugee's Journey
There are Middle Easterners hidden among the Latin Americans seeking entry at the U.S. border. But they're not who you think.
Bureaucratic Fights in Washington Sow Chaos in Syria
Trump decided to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. But no one knows when or how it's happening and Congress is nowhere to be found.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Free Speech Warrior?
The former president of Iran, who once banned Twitter, discovers the joys of social media.
Meet the Iraqi Christians Trapped in Immigration Limbo
Chaldean-Assyrians aren't safe in their home country. But reuniting with family in a new one feels impossible.
In Jordan, Labor Unions and Businesses Have Joined Forces to Fight an Unpopular Tax Bill
Tax increases aimed at balancing the government budget have squeezed the poor and middle class and sparked a wave of protests.
Social Media Beats Censorship in Iran
The vigorous debate over censorship shows how much Iran has changed in recent years.
Free Speech Activists Brawl with Supporters of Turkish President Erdo?an
Clash for the third time in two years in U.S. between supporters and opponents of Erdo?an.
