Left: Rival Pakistani rallies have been held for and against the Saudi-led campaign on Yemen [Reuters] In the first few months of 2015, Pakistan has made news regarding its relationship with both the United States and Saudi Arabia. And as usual, one … [Read more...] about A Pakistan-Saudi-U.S. Triangle
Pakistan
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*
Can Saudi Arabia Form a United Sunni Front?
Left: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (r) with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh, March 2, 2015; picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency; AFP Photo/SPA/HO The attempt to establish a Sunni pact against the background of the … [Read more...] about Can Saudi Arabia Form a United Sunni Front?
Iran as a Nuclear Threshold State: Implications for Israel and the Middle East
While an arrangement that leaves Iran as a nuclear threshold state may be the lesser of all evils for the United States, it can be expected to be very bad for Israel. A signed agreement of this sort will widen the existing disputes between the … [Read more...] about Iran as a Nuclear Threshold State: Implications for Israel and the Middle East
AID to Pakistan: Money Down A Rat Hole
After Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif's visit to the Pentagon, Islamabad defense officials claimed that the United States would give Pakistan $1 billion through the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). The officials added that … [Read more...] about AID to Pakistan: Money Down A Rat Hole
Afghanistan – Recent Developments
Left: Confident of victory, before the first round of Afghan elections. General Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ashraf Ghani. Photo: Dostum's Facebook page More than 100 days in office, Afgan President Ashraf Ghani has missed his promised deadline … [Read more...] about Afghanistan – Recent Developments
Weekly Briefing – January 5-9, 2015
The Mystery of the Islamic State - Rachel Ehrenfeld -- Over several months last year, in an effort to understand the Islamic State movement, Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought the … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – January 5-9, 2015
Where Is Saudi Support For Taliban Victims?
A conspicuous lack of aid shows where the Kingdom stands. Conspicuously, neither Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz nor the rulers of any Arab or Muslim state are holding special national telethons to help raise funds for some 400,000 new … [Read more...] about Where Is Saudi Support For Taliban Victims?