Back in 1887 the famous poet and storyteller Oscar Wilde quipped: ‘We [English] have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language’. We got another example of this malediction in the blah-blah-blah which has attended … [Read more...] about Special Relationship II*
Energy policy
China’s New Grand Strategy for the Middle East*
Chinese President Xi Jinping with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Tehran, January 23, 2016 - After decades of distance, China is moving closer to the region’s sectarian feuds — and its vital oil reserves At the start of 2016, prospects … [Read more...] about China’s New Grand Strategy for the Middle East*
The Petrokingdom In Peril*
"The decision makers of the Saudi government should not have any doubt that this blood will trouble them. It will haunt them."- Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - The eastern province, bordering on the Gulf, not only has a concentration of oil, it … [Read more...] about The Petrokingdom In Peril*
Energy: let’s go!*
The markets - including old-fashioned American technological know-how - has almost turned the Obama Administration's original energy policies 180 degrees. But there is still a lot to be done. And it will require the cooperation of a Congress, too … [Read more...] about Energy: let’s go!*
The Mystery of Obama’s Iran*
Even the most dogged defenders of Pres. Barack Obama’s “deal” with Iran will admit that the U.S. had to make concessions to achieve it. The extent of those concessions and their implications are certainly more than debatable. True enough, in any … [Read more...] about The Mystery of Obama’s Iran*
The Iran Deal Through an (Oil) Glass Darkly
The profit margins Big Oil requires are no longer to be made in Saudi Arabia but in Iran and Iraq. Once the US concludes a nuclear deal with Iran, Big Oil will see to it that it sticks, and Washington can turn its attention to the true cause of … [Read more...] about The Iran Deal Through an (Oil) Glass Darkly
Weekly Briefing – March 16-20, 2015
“Anti-Semitism is a Huge Menace” – The Netherlands Chief Rabbi - Emerson Vermaat, Exclusive to ACD - “The growing wave of anti-Semitism in Holland forces Jews to be careful and hide any symbol that would give away their identity.” “I don’t think … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – March 16-20, 2015
Beware of the Ides of March
March 2015 is looking like it is going to be a very "interesting" month, to quote the well-known Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times". First Prime Minister Netanyahu will address the joint houses of Congress while he is in Washington to … [Read more...] about Beware of the Ides of March
Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15
Cybersecurity and the 114th Congress - Rachel Ehrenfeld - The Sony hacking served as a national reminder that cybersecurity should be taken more seriously...In May 2010, former National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander lamented, "The scale of … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15
Weekly Briefing – December 21-27, 2014
Left: Israel - completely clear - on Christmas morning from the International Space Station. Astronaut Barry Wilmore woke up early on Christmas to reflect upon the beauty of the Earth and snap some images to share with the world. Photo credit: … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – December 21-27, 2014