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Hussain Abdul-Hussain

Hussain Abdul-Hussain is the Washington bureau chief of Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai and a former visiting fellow at Chatham House in London. Previously, he helped launch and manage the Iraqi stream of the Arabic TV network Alhurra. Before relocating to Washington, Abdul-Hussain worked as a reporter, and later as managing editor, for Lebanon’s The Daily Star. He has reported from conflict zones on the border between Lebanon and Israel, and from Baghdad shortly after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime. Abdul-Hussain has also contributed articles to US newspapers, including The New York Times and the Washington Post, and appeared on American TV news networks such as CNN and MSNBC. In addition, he is a frequent commentator on Arabic satellite TV networks.

Articles By Hussain Abdul-Hussain

Democrats Are Coming Round to Trump’s Pull Out from Iran Nuclear Deal By Hussain Abdul-Hussain - Jun 26, 2020

When Brian Hook, America’s special representative for Iran, flew to Switzerland earlier this month to receive Michael White, a US hostage released from Iranian captivity, he had another purpose in mind. As White arrived, escorted by Iranian officials, Hook offered the Iranians, through Swiss mediators, a meeting. “The Iranians turned down the offer,” Hook told … Continue reading “Democrats Are Coming Round to Trump’s Pull Out from Iran Nuclear Deal”

Why (Of Course) the Middle East Should Worry About Donald Trump By Hussain Abdul-Hussain - Jun 10, 2020

America currently faces three simultaneous crises: A pandemic whose severity recalls that of the 1918 Spanish Flu, an economic downturn as serious as the 1929 Depression, and an explosive protest movement reminiscent of 1968. In Donald Trump, America currently also is presided over by a leader unlike any in its history. The Middle East, a … Continue reading “Why (Of Course) the Middle East Should Worry About Donald Trump”

Iraq’s New Prime Minister Has Pledged to Crush Pro-Iran Militias, So Why Is Tehran Silent? By Hussain Abdul-Hussain - May 26, 2020

Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has assumed the office of prime minister of Iraq with no objections from Iran. This is puzzling. One possible reason might be Iran’s need for cash, which is now so desperate that Tehran has asked the IMF for a loan of $5 billion. Of the countries that Iran controls, Iraq is the only … Continue reading “Iraq’s New Prime Minister Has Pledged to Crush Pro-Iran Militias, So Why Is Tehran Silent?”

Propaganda and Perception: New Tactics for Iran and Its Allies? By Hussain Abdul-Hussain - Apr 28, 2020

The killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by the Americans in January has brought a change in tactics for Iran and its proxies. Tehran’s allied militias have mounted fewer attacks and they have been on a smaller scale (and yes, that includes the harassment of US navy vessels in the Gulf), but they have been … Continue reading “Propaganda and Perception: New Tactics for Iran and Its Allies?”

After the Pandemic: Taming Iran’s Trouble-Making in the Middle East By Hussain Abdul-Hussain - Mar 30, 2020

Iran is facing a “war” with the coronavirus named Covid-19. Under multiple sanctions and out of money, Tehran is struggling to control the spread of disease and a rising death toll. While no one wants to turn human tragedy into dividend, it is nevertheless no exaggeration to say that Iran has been among the biggest … Continue reading “After the Pandemic: Taming Iran’s Trouble-Making in the Middle East”