For a century European politics was dogged with “the sick man of Europe”: the collapsing Ottoman Empire and its implications for the major powers. That’s not the case now, of course. Multi-ethnic empires are a thing of the past, their death rattle … [Read more...] about The New Old Sick Man of Europe*
Connecting the Terror in Paris with the Terror against Israel
Left: Kashmiri demonstrators hold up Palestinian flags and a flag of the Islamic State during a 2014 demonstration (AFP) Seemingly, the connection between the Islamic terror against the West and the Palestinian terror against Israel is confined to … [Read more...] about Connecting the Terror in Paris with the Terror against Israel
Profile of Palestinian Terrorists in Recent Attacks
Left: Encouragement for stabbing attacks. The Arabic reads, "Ignite it… the revolution" (Facebook page of "Haters of Israel," October 17, 2015) Interim Report: Profile of Palestinians Who Carried Out Attacks in Judea and Samaria in the Current … [Read more...] about Profile of Palestinian Terrorists in Recent Attacks
What Should Israel Worry About?
A former director of the Central Intelligence Agency recently stated that the intelligence community in the U.S. has a perfect record of identifying future threats: "We have never been right". The one thing we know nothing about is the future. … [Read more...] about What Should Israel Worry About?
Turkey’s Story on Downing Russian Jet Doesn’t Add Up*
Left: Putin: Turkey's Downing Russian jet "is a stab in the back, carried out by the accomplices of terrorists." The Turkish story on the Russian jet shoot down does not hold up. In fact, the evidence points to a deliberate provocation by Turkey … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Story on Downing Russian Jet Doesn’t Add Up*
A Response to Bernard-Henri Lévy*
On November 16, 2015, French public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy published a commentary in which he urges the West to acknowledge that it is at war and must call things by their right names. He subsequently argues that we must battle Islamic jihad … [Read more...] about A Response to Bernard-Henri Lévy*
Portrait of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, ISIS Belgian Terrorist*
Overview Abdelhamid Abaaoud (Abu Oud) was a terrorist operative of Belgian origin who headed the network that carried out the terrorist attack in Paris. After the attack he was pursued by the French security forces. On November 18, 2015, French … [Read more...] about Portrait of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, ISIS Belgian Terrorist*
Spotlight on Iran (Nov. 8-22, 2015)*
Overview The Iranian forces continue to suffer heavy losses in the fierce battles being waged in northwestern Syria. During the past two weeks at least 17 more Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) fighters were killed, at least five of them … [Read more...] about Spotlight on Iran (Nov. 8-22, 2015)*
Refugees, Terrorists and Morality
Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, America’s leaders are presented with a vexing problem of statecraft, which poses realism versus idealism. Millions of refugees are pouring out of Syria; victims of the more than four years … [Read more...] about Refugees, Terrorists and Morality
Worry about ISIS Potential Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons*
France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned told the parliament that he could not rule out terrorists using chemical and biological weapons. Accordingly, the French government has taken its first step in distributing an antidote, Atropine, to … [Read more...] about Worry about ISIS Potential Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons*