Recent Columns - From Richard Francis Burton in Boy Brothels to an American ambassador's parting shots

A Spy In the Brothels of Karachi 

Dec 17, 2016 12:13 AM EST

Before he was a world-famous spy and translator, Richard Fr.... MORE

—An expanded version of my earlier post on Burton's appendix to "The Thousand Nights and a Night"



Iran's Selective Crackdown on Christians

Dec 27, 2016 12:00 AM EST

Iran tolerates some Christians but not others—and converting from Islam can cost you your life. MORE

—It's the converts who are in the greatest danger



John Kerry's Last Warning to Israel

Dec 28, 2016 2:54 PM EST

With just 23 days remaining in office, President Obama's secretary of State tries to deliver 'hard... MORE

—Almost certainly a futile gesture.

Inside Turkey’s Terror ‘Santa’ Attack

Jan 1, 2017 8:43 AM EST

As video emerges of terrorists mowing down least 39 people at a popular Istanbul nightclub, a... MORE

—Apparently he wasn't a Santa at all ... and as far as I know he is still on the run, although the Turks are rounding up Uighurs. 
—On Jan 16 the Turks announced they had arrested (and apparently beat the shit out of) an Uzbek named Abdulkadir Masharipov.

Wary of Trump, Le Pen Embraces Putin

Jan 6, 2017 2:15 PM EST

While cautious about fully embracing Donald Trump, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen is... MORE

—And apparently Trump is wary of her, declining to receive her on her trip to New York last week. We reported she was on her way there after our sources texted us from the American Airlines plane she was on out of Paris. But it seems Trump's buddy Nigel Farage may have nixed a meeting.



Obama, Terror, and Trump: Parting Shots

Jan 13, 2017 3:12 PM EST

U.S. Amb. Jane Hartley leaves France on Jan. 19, the day before Inauguration Day.... MORE

—She was guarded in her remarks, and then she wasn't.