Left: Iran has provided military support to Syrian government forces since at least 2012. Credit, RFE/RL file - It has been a slow burn for a while, but the latest incident in northern Israel resulting in the shoot-down of an Israeli F-16 tells us … [Read more...] about Russia responsible for Iran’s behavior in Syria
Assad
Syria Ceasefire Will Not Defeat ISIS
The United States and Russia brokered ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and few of the fighting groups is scheduled for February 27, 2016, 00:00 local time. While Washington described the agreement as yet another major diplomatic … [Read more...] about Syria Ceasefire Will Not Defeat ISIS
The Syrian Threat to Israel*
Left: Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - liveuamap, February 22, 2016 There are more than two dozen state and non-state actors battling over the prostrate body of what used to be Syria, one of the artificial entities carved out in … [Read more...] about The Syrian Threat to Israel*
Misnavigating America
As if seven years of Obama’s efforts to diminish the world’s superpower were not enough, recent events in the Middle East highlight the need for American leadership capable of righting the ship. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s statement that the … [Read more...] about Misnavigating America
The Counter-Terrorist-Financing Farce
Left: The chart on the right shows the intricate money-laundering system the Lebanese Canadian Bank used to divert money to the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, according to United States officials. (The NYT, Dec 13, 2011). And on June 25, 2013, the … [Read more...] about The Counter-Terrorist-Financing Farce
Spotlight on Iran*
Left: On January 31, 2016, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei awarded the ‘Fath’ medal on Commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi as well as four others for capturing 2 US Navy patrol boats and 10 US Marines on January 12, … [Read more...] about Spotlight on Iran*
Increasing Militarization of the Middle East *
Left: Definition of Middle Eastern countries: Central Intelligence Agency Recent developments in the Middle East show a disturbing trend to add to all the other disturbing trends that have emerged in the region since the "Arab Spring" began in 2011. … [Read more...] about Increasing Militarization of the Middle East *
Feeding Iran’s Terrorist Agenda
Left: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif waving [goodbye] to the Peace Dove. (cartoon by Keyvan Varessi, Iranian daily Iranian daily Ghanoon) - The lifting of the sanctions on Iran is significant not only because … [Read more...] about Feeding Iran’s Terrorist Agenda
A Century after Sykes-Picot: Strategic and Geopolitical Aspects*
"The instability and the uncertainty that characterize the current state of affairs is best exploited, as mentioned before, by the most prominent enemies from the Radical Islamic camp – both Iran and its surrogates and the Sunni Radicals." The … [Read more...] about A Century after Sykes-Picot: Strategic and Geopolitical Aspects*
Key factor in sharply-improved Putin-Netanyahu strategic ties? The Obama White House
Left: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Sept. 21, 2015 / EPA Israeli-Russian strategic cooperation already good was markedly improving in early October 2015. The primary impediment … [Read more...] about Key factor in sharply-improved Putin-Netanyahu strategic ties? The Obama White House