Patrick Cockburn
Patrick Cockburn is a veteran Irish journalist who has covered Iraq, Syria and the wider Middle East for over four decades, first as Middle East correspondent for the Financial Times, then for The Independent from 1990 to 2022, and since then for the i Paper. He also contributes to the London Review of Books and CounterPunch, and is the author of several books on Iraq and the rise of ISIS. He reads the wars as a reporter drawing on deep on-the-ground sourcing rather than as an ideologue, consistently skeptical of Western military intervention and its official narratives.
Where they stand
A short read of where Patrick Cockburn lands on each front we follow, drawn from their recent appearances and refreshed whenever they turn up in a debrief.
Iran
A third round of war is increasingly likely, but Iran will not capitulate after a short air burst; Iran is strategically stronger for its leverage over Hormuz and the Gulf Arab states.
as of 2026-10-28
Ukraine & Russia
Neither side is winning; both are suffering heavy losses, casualty reporting is lopsided, and there is no reason the war should end soon.
as of 2026-09-27
Israel
Netanyahu is a prime driver pushing the US toward war; four or five unfinished wars show Israel cannot turn military strength into political success.
as of 2026-10-28
American power
Trump has degraded US soft power and turned it into a caricature of a corrupt tinpot state; wounds will take long to heal, though there is now genuine domestic push back.
as of 2026-10-28
The global economy
Another round will push oil prices, already high, higher and hurt the world economy.
as of 2026-10-28
Recent appearances
Patrick Cockburn: Will Trump & Israel strike Iran again?
Tom Switzer · 2026-10-28