Left: Obama and several Gulf States leaders at the U.S. GSS Summit, Camp David, Maryland, May 14, 2015. The Islamic State’s territorial gains in Iraq and Syria and growing propaganda and recruitment in the West, is being downplayed by the Obama … [Read more...] about Obama’s “Serious Global Threat”
Middle East Conflicts
Obama, ISIS, the Pope and the Palestinians
While cache of computers, cell phones, and documents that was captured during the raid will provide important information about ISIS financial operations in Iraq and Syria and possibly on its support of its branches in North Africa, South-East Asia … [Read more...] about Obama, ISIS, the Pope and the Palestinians
ISIS’s Progress
Left: ISIS's new 5 star hotel in Mosul. No women in swimming pools, playing tennis or any public space unless completely covered, The hotel is patrolled by ISIS's women police brigade. (ISIS-affiliated social networks, May 1, 2015). As ISIS/ISIL … [Read more...] about ISIS’s Progress
Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*
Left - Members of al Qaeda's Nusra Front in Lebanon. The already extremely complex Middle East may be on the verge of becoming even more so. At this point, the Sh'ia northern arc of Iran, Iraq, Assad and Hezbollah is in confrontation with the … [Read more...] about Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*
An Era of Blah Blah Blah
One of the many reasons we commemorate the catastrophic death of Abraham Lincoln 150 years ago is to celebrate his incredible style, his ability in a few words to sum up the essence of our hopes and fears at a moment of crisis. What makes it all the … [Read more...] about An Era of Blah Blah Blah
Legal Rules and Anti-Terrorism Warfare
Mustaffa Dirani, right, and Sheikh Abdel Karim Obeid, left, are seen as they wait at the District court in Tel Aviv Monday, May 29, 2000. (File Photo:AP) The Case of Mustafa Dirani, Revisited: On January 15, 2015, an expanded panel of judges … [Read more...] about Legal Rules and Anti-Terrorism Warfare
Putin Throws a Spanner Into the Works*
Following the unsigned non-agreement on the contents of which no-one agrees in · Lausanne, declared "historic" by President Obama (which it surely is, in the sense that the 1938 Munich agreement and the 1994 North Korean agreement were historic), … [Read more...] about Putin Throws a Spanner Into the Works*
Toward a New Russian Initiative on the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?*
Left: Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) shows the way to his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on April 13, 2015. (photo credit: AFP/Sergei Ilnitsky, Pool) The significance … [Read more...] about Toward a New Russian Initiative on the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?*
Iran’s Nuclear Framework: Insights and Recommendations*
President Barack Obama speaks the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 2, 2015, about the breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear talks. The president heralded a framework nuclear understanding with Iran as an "historic" … [Read more...] about Iran’s Nuclear Framework: Insights and Recommendations*
The “Historic” Agreement That Ignores History*
No-one agrees on what was agreed with Iran, but in any case the precedents are hardly encouraging. By this time hordes of commentators have chewed over Mr. Obama's "historic" agreement. Some aspects, however, have been overlooked or … [Read more...] about The “Historic” Agreement That Ignores History*