Patrick Oliver Cockburn is an Irish journalist who has been a Middle East correspondent since 1979 for the Financial Times and, presently, The Independent. He has written four books on Iraq 's recent history. He won the Martha Gellhorn Prize in 2005, the James Cameron Prize in 2006 and the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2009.
Afganistanin sotaa kaunistellaan valheilla, 4.3.2014 (Patrick Cockburn)
Sectarianism is alive and well in Northern Ireland – and Boris Johnson is recklessly picking at the scabs, Independent, 2 August 2019
A no-deal Brexit would be an opening shot in a Johnson and Trump-led economic cold war with the EU, Independent, 27 July 2019
Brexit Britain is on the brink of a ‘national breakdown’, Independent, 23 July 2019
Iran tanker crisis: Impending Brexit leaves UK with no choice but to do US bidding – and suffer the consequences, Independent, 22 July 2019
Boris Johnson is often compared to Trump, but he is even more dangerous – here's why, Independent, 20 July 2019
Deferring to Trump's ego over the Kim Darroch leak highlights the weakness of Britain, Independent, 13 July 2019
With an unstable ally in Trump, Britain is making itself a target in the Gulf, Independent, 12 July 2019
Hunt is wrong about sanctions. I’ve seen for myself how they hurt the poor yet leave leaders untouched, Independent, 5 July 2019
Horrific pictures of drowned migrants should not distract us from the fact that far more people die on EU borders, Independent, 28 June 2019
Trump the isolationist may hope to avoid a war with Iran – but he could already be in too deep, Independent, 21 June 2019
All over the country ethnic minorities are victims of more violence than ever – and it's all because of Brexit, Independent, 14 June 2019
Is Donald Trump a fascist? Well, he’s not Mussolini or Hitler just yet – but he’s not far off, Independent, 7 June 2019
America’s persecution of Julian Assange has everything to do with Yemen, Independent, 31 May 2019
Theresa May was a bad PM – but her resignation will do nothing to arrest Britain's long-term decline, Independent, 24 May 2019
Four times the US has made the same mistake in the Middle East. Now Trump is making it yet again over Iran, Independent, 17 May 2019
The mysterious ‘sabotage' of Saudi oil tankers is a dangerous moment in Trump's pumped up feud with Iran, Independent, 13 May 2019
Europe doesn’t have the power to be much more than a spectator in the escalating US-Iran conflict, Independent, 10 May 2019
Britain's legacy is not benign – the Cambridge slavery inquiry will show we have plenty to feel guilty for, Independent, 3 May 2019
Brexit and austerity: a toxic mix that has decimated the life chances of a whole generation, Independent, 1 May 2019
Though Isis leader al-Baghdadi is alive, this poor strategist may not be a huge threat, Independent, 29 April 2019
We can end Isis terrorism – but only if western countries wind down their proxy wars in the Middle East, Independent, 26 April 2019
Revolutionaries in the Middle East have learnt crucial lessons since the Arab Spring, Independent, 19 April 2019
Calling Assange a ‘narcissist' misses the point – without WikiLeaks we would live in darker, less informed times, Independent, 12 April 2019
What Benjamin Netanyahu's victory in Israel tells us about the balance of power in the Middle East, Independent, 10 April 2019
Brexit's negative effects are not ‘yet to come' – leaving the EU has already left Britain crippled for good, Independent, 5 April 2019
In Birmingham, the ‘city of a thousand trades', Brexit is endangering a modern-day renaissance, Independent, 1 April 2019
Theresa May’s appalling legacy will be the total destruction of the Good Friday Agreement, Independent, 30 March 2019
Isis caliphate defeated: How the Islamic State's brutal project was finally overthrown, and what might come next, Independent, 23 March 2019
The brutal legacy of Bloody Sunday is a powerful warning to the Tories still hoping to save Brexit, Independent, 15 March 2019
Karen Bradley's ‘mistake' was more than ignorance – it reveals the political class's disregard for Irish life, Independent, 8 March 2019
Nobody wants a return to war in Northern Ireland but events can create their own momentum, Independent, 6 March 2019
The English are blindly driving Northern Ireland to conflict – the fear is that they are too stupid to care, Independent, 2 March 2019
Forget our dire levels of competency around Brexit and foreign policy – Shamima Begum and her infant are the real threat, Independent, 22 February 2019
Shamima Begum may not have known what she got herself into with Isis, but then neither did western governments, Independent, 15 February 2019
Trump says Isis has been defeated, but he is ignoring the bigger and much more worrying picture, Independent, 8 February 2019
A Plague of Rats: How Years of Austerity Prompted Many Britons to Vote for Brexit, CounterPunch, 5 February 2019
Crass Brexiteer Mark Francois needs a lesson in British history – it might help him understand our strange hubris, Independent, 2 February 2019
The Western world may no longer underestimate Isis, but we've failed to learn the most important lessons from its rise and fall, Independent, 25 January 2019
Why Trump doesn’t always get it wrong on the Middle East, Independent, 23 January 2019
Ignorant wishful thinking has harmed our approach to Brexit – much as it did during the Arab Spring, Independent, 18 January 2019
Brexit dominates political circles, but outside Westminster many are tuning out, The Independent, 16 January 2019
Refugees in the Channel are risking everything because of western intervention in the Middle East, Independent, 11 January 2019
The fate of Gatwick and the failings of armed forces recruitment tell a sorry tale about a country that wanted to ‘take back control’, Independent, 5 January 2019
From Bizarre Rage Against James Joyce to MI5 Phone-Bugging: Why I Collect Snippets of Strangers' Conversations, CounterPunch, 1 January 2019
Trump's Syria Withdrawal Is a Simple Case of Foreign Policy Realism, The Unz Review, 22 December 2018
How anger in Washington over Khashoggi's murder has led to progress in the Yemen conflict, Independent, 14 December 2018
Yemen war: At least six times as many killed in conflict than previously thought, report says, Independent, 11 December 2018
Brexit Britain is facing a deep crisis of self-confidence. It will only end in tears – and rising nationalism, Independent, 7 December 2018
Brexit and our forgotten military losses of the past show up Britain's naive exceptionalism, Independent, 30 November 2018
Brexit is the equivalent of a major defeat in war, Independent, 23 November 2018
What we can learn from a headmaster's refusal to celebrate the armistice 100 years ago, Independent, 10 November 2018
The midterm results are challenging racism in America in ways you wouldn’t think, Independent, 9 November 2018
Sanctions on Iran could easily turn into a demonstration of US weakness, rather than strength, Independent, 5 November 2018
My childhood experience of polio taught me an important lesson about the effects of migration on healthcare, Independent, 2 November 2018
Business people as diplomats? An utterly disastrous idea from Jeremy Hunt, Independent, 1 November 2018
Is war reporting losing the propaganda battle? Independent, 27 October 2018
The Yemen war death toll is five times higher than we think – we can't shrug off our responsibilities any longer, Independent, 26 October 2018
Erdogan did not reveal Turkey’s entire hand about Khashoggi killing to keep his leverage over Saudi Arabia, Independent, 24 October 2018
Donald Trump's actions in the Middle East will damage his position far more than the Russia probe ever could, Independent, 19 October 2018
Jamal Khashoggi: Missing journalist case proves that when Saudi Arabia’s credibility is damaged so is America’s, Independent, 16 October 2018
The Saudi targeting of food supplies in Yemen is a worse story than the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, Independent, 12 October 2018
Idlib: Residents of last rebel stronghold declare their hatred for all sides in Syria's civil war, Independent, 11 October 2018
How the disappearance of a journalist and a humiliating remark by Trump shows Saudi Arabia's weakness, Independent, 5 October 2018
New Iraqi leadership is a sign the country is stabilising after four decades of chao, Independent, 4 October 2018
Russia's new missile defence system in Syria will likely change balance of power in Middle East, Independent, 3 October 2018
As Isis is defeated, the Trump administration is opening the door to a new round of Middle East wars by targeting Iran as the source of all evil, Independent, 28 September 2018
The ceasefire agreed by Russia and Turkey proves how far Putin has come out on top in Syria, Independent, 21 September 2018
Haider al-Abadi is losing his grip on power - but it will likely mean little change for Iraq's government, Independent, 19 September 2018
The 'adults' in the White House trying to save America from Trump are just as dangerous as he is, Independent, 14 September 2018
The major uprising in Basra and southern Iraq is what the world should be worrying about in the Middle East right now, Independent, 7 September 2018
If the Troubles return after Brexit, it won't just be because of the Irish border issue, Independent, 31 August 2018
Unlike the US with Trump, Britain doesn't have the political clout to suffer a fool like Boris Johnson, Independent, 3 August 2018
Britain shows it is becoming a weaker state by failing to put the Isis ‘Beatles' on trial, Independent, 27 July 2018
Brexiteers like Boris Johnson must realise that past British successes were based on creating alliances, not breaking them up, Independent, 21 July 2018
Iraq protests: Demonstrators blame ‘bad government, bad roads, bad weather, bad people’, Independent, 18 July 2018
Trump knows that the US can exercise more power in a UK weakened by Brexit, Independent, 13 July 2018
Iraq unrest: Chaos reigns in the country even Saddam Hussein ‘found difficult to rule, Independent, 11 July 2018
Syria conflict: After series of calamitous defeats, is Isis about to lose its last town? Independent, 9 July 2018
After Isis is gone, Iraq will continue to be a deeply corrupt country, Independent, 6 July 2018
For this Iraqi tribe massacred by Isis, fear of the group's return is a constant reality, Independent, 4 July 2018
Catastrophic drought threatens Iraq as major dams in surrounding countries cut off water to its great rivers, Independent, 2 July 2018
Iraq executes 13 and orders hanging of hundreds more amid fears of Isis resurgence, Independent, 30 June 2018
Iraq isn't as dangerous as it was – but many still live in fear, Independent, 29 June 2018
Why do we so consistently underplay the links between cannabis and psychosis? This isn't a benevolent drug, Independent, 22 June 2018
Attacking Hodeidah is a deliberate act of cruelty by the Trump administration, Independent, 15 June 2018
Kurdish women protest after being told by Turkish-backed militias to wear the hijab, Independent, 14 June 2018
After assessing MI5's files on my father, it's clear that not all facts are equal, Independent, 8 June 2018
Battle for Libyan city of Derna, where 125,000 people face ‘unprecedented levels of violence', Independent, 5 June 2018
US, Britain and France inflicted worst destruction 'in decades' killing civilians in Isis-held city of Raqqa, report says, Independent, 5 June 2018
The non-murder of Babchenko shares striking parallels with the murder of a Ukrainian journalist that I covered 18 years ago, Independent, 1 June 2018
The Manchester bomber was only able to massacre people because of the mistakes made by the British government, Independent, 25 May 2018
Israel is at the height of its power after the embassy opening in Jerusalem – but uncritical support from the US will do it more damage than good, Independent, 18 May 2018
Election success for Muqtada al-Sadr shows Iraqi voters shaking off foreign intervention, Independent, 15 May 2018
US and Iran battle for influence in first post-Isis Iraq election, Independent, 14 May 2018
The Iraqi elections and the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem will illuminate the damage Trump has really done to the Middle East, Independent, 11 May 2018
Israel has no real desire for armed conflict with Iran, but Trump might stumble into war against Tehran, Independent, 10 May 2018
If Europe wants to remain relevant on the world stage, it must resist the US on the Iran nuclear deal, Independent, 9 May 2018
It's not clear if Trump and Netanyahu want a war with Iran – but they may fall into one all the same, Independent, 4 May 2018
Netanyahu's performance only sought to prove exactly why Iran nuclear deal needs to remain in place, Independent, 1 May 2018
Israel's strategy of banking on a muted Iranian response in Syria may backfire, Independent, 30 April 2018
The Iran crisis presents a bigger danger to peace than North Korea now that Trump seems determined to end the nuclear deal, Independent, 27 April 2018
Trump may talk tough against Iran, but in reality his political options are limited, Independent, 24 April 2018
We should be sceptical of far-away governments who claim to know what is happening on the ground in Syria, Independent, 20 April 2018
Yazidis who suffered under Isis face forced conversion to Islam amid fresh persecution in Afrin, Independent, 19 April 2018
Syria bombing allows May to pose as patriotic leader – but betrays weakness, rather than shows strength, Independent, 15 April 2018
The latest airstrikes in Syria were a cautious gesture of disapproval rather than a dent in Assad's military machine, Independent, 14 April 2018
The only way to end the war in Syria is negotiation with Assad – but no one wants to be seen shaking hands with the devil, Independent, 13 April 2018
How can we know that a chemical weapons attack took place in Syria? Independent, 11 April 2018
Trump Says Assad Will 'pay a Price' – But It Won't Make a Difference, The Unz Review, 9 April 2018
Protests in Gaza are leading to many deaths and injuries among Palestinians, yet Israel has faced little criticism, Independent, 6 April 2018
US troops will remain in Syria despite Trump telling rally he ‘wanted' to bring them home, Independent, 4 April 2018
The appointments of John Bolton and Mike Pompeo in the US bring us closer to war in the Middle East, CounterPunch, 30 March 2018
It's Wishful Thinking to Blame Trump's Win on Cambridge Analytics, CounterPunch, 27 March 2018
Isis-inspired terror attacks in Europe give the impression it's still a global force. It's not, Independent, 23 March 2018
Syria: Turkish President threatens to launch wider offensive against Kurds after capturing Afrin, Independent, 19 March 2018
After my recent trip to Syria, I knew Afrin's fall was inevitable – now we must concern ourselves with the next phase of war, Independent, 17 March
The Syrian war could still be raging in four years' time unless the US and Russia agree to end it, Independent, 16 March 2018
Syria's war of ethnic cleansing: Kurds threatened with beheading by Turkey's allies if they don't convert to extremism, Independent, 12 March 2018
While the world looks to Eastern Ghouta, civilians in Afrin are being slaughtered in their hundreds by Turkish forces, Independent, 9 March 2018
Raqqa: 'Liberated' former Isis capital still gripped by fear, full of booby traps and bombed to oblivion, Independent, 8 March 2018
Syria: US-backed Kurds brace for dramatic escalation of Turkish invasion that could be bloodier than Aleppo, Raqqa or Eastern Ghouta, Independent, 7 March 2018
Syria: US-backed Kurds brace for dramatic escalation of Turkish invasion that could be bloodier than Aleppo, Raqqa or Eastern Ghouta, Independent, 7 March 2018
Withholding medical supplies is particularly vicious and shows the Syrian government's determination to reclaim Eastern Ghouta, Independent, 5 March 2018
Inside Syria: With its enemies diverted or fighting each other, Isis is making a swift and deadly comeback, Independent, 4 March 2018
In the small city of Manbij in Syria, we could see US and Turkish troops shooting at each other if tensions continue, Independent, 2 March 2018
Syria: Attack on Afrin will bring devastation and suffering like that seen in Eastern Ghouta, Kurds warn, Independent, 1 March 2018
Trapped in eastern Ghouta: How both sides are preventing civilians escaping the horror in Syria siege, Independent, 26 February 2018
This could be the last siege of the Syrian war, Independent, 20 February 2018
If you care so much about Haitians you should be asking why Oxfam was there in the first place,, Independent, 16 February 2018
Why we should fear the 'Washington establishment' figures who are pulling the strings in the Trump administration, Independent, 3 February 2018
By reversing its policy in Syria the US is fuelling more wars in the Middle East, Independent, 26 January 2018
Manbij becomes key as US looks to rein in Turkey's Syrian offensive, Independent, 23 January 2018
Kurdish forces in Syria launch powerful counterattack to set up extended battle against Turkey, Independent, 22 January 2018
Syria crisis: Turkish assault on Kurdish enclave threatens to open deadly new phase in bloody seven-year civil war, Independent, 21 January 2018
It's time we saw economic sanctions for what they really are – war crimes, Independent, 19 January 2018
Trump's escalating threats to Iran risk destabilising the Middle East, Independent, 16 January 2018
European foreign ministers are being forced to side with Iran over Trump whether they like it or not, Independent, 12 January 2018
Israel air strikes and missile barrage designed to show it is still a player in Syria as Assad nears victory, Independent, 9 January 2018
When it comes to the Iran protests, be careful who you put your trust in, Independent, 5 January 2018
Corruption and inequality fuelling protests in Iran as Rouhani faces pressure to crack down, Independent, 1 January 2018