Any hope for an exit from the current Middle East chaos lies with the efforts of Gen. Pres. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to stabilize its politics and rebuild the Egyptian economy. With its 90 million people and traditional role as the intellectual leader … [Read more...] about The Egyptian Bet
Syria
A French- Egyptian Bridge Over The Mediterranean: An Arms Deal*
Left: Rafale - RIAT 2009. Image @ Wikimedia Commons A recent arms deal between Egypt and France may indicate a change in the regional balance of power; Egypt's traditional reliance on U.S. arms and assistance may be gradually shifting towards other … [Read more...] about A French- Egyptian Bridge Over The Mediterranean: An Arms Deal*
The International Campaign against ISIS
Left: Boko Haram, the militant Nigerian group, has announced it is allying with the Islamic State (Isis). The pledge was made in a film, appearing to be a recording of the group’s leader Abubakar Shjeka, which was posted online on March 7, 2015. On … [Read more...] about The International Campaign against ISIS
Weekly Briefing – March 1-7, 2015
Right: TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and senior negotiator Seyed Abbas Araqchi described the removal of all sanctions against Tehran as a precondition for a comprehensive deal with the world powers, underlining that Tehran is standing … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – March 1-7, 2015
The Conduct & Funding of ISIS – Feb. 26–March 4, 2015*
Left: ISIS "deliberate destruction of irreplaceable objects of religious and cultural values in the museum of Mosul and burning thousands of books and rare manuscripts from the library of Mosul." Destruction of historical relics In the past two … [Read more...] about The Conduct & Funding of ISIS – Feb. 26–March 4, 2015*
Netanyahu’s Speech in Congress
The following are excerpts from the Israeli PM's speech: "The remarkable alliance between Israel and the United States has always been above politics. It must always remain above politics. Because America and Israel, we share a common destiny, the … [Read more...] about Netanyahu’s Speech in Congress
The Obama Persian Mystery
Obscured by all the hullabaloo over the Congressional speaking invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the more fundamental mystery of the Obama Administration’s Iranian strategy. Laying aside the increasingly evident incompetence … [Read more...] about The Obama Persian Mystery
Weekly Briefing – February 22 – 27, 2015
Drones in the U.S. National Airspace System - Major Stephen Maddox & Captain David Stuckenberg -- in 2014 an American Airlines Group regional jet in Florida nearly collided with a drone at 2,300 feet. This type of UAS is supposed to remain … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – February 22 – 27, 2015
A Syrian Nuclear Snapshot*
Left: A Google Earth view of a Syrian scientific facility in Jamraya, near Damascus, before it was allegedly struck by Israeli warplanes in late January 2015 (photo credit: image capture from Google Earth) Syria has a long history of deception and … [Read more...] about A Syrian Nuclear Snapshot*
Weekly Briefing, February 8-13, 2015
Deterring ISIL is Not Enough - Rachel Ehrenfeld - "Muslims need to change the religious discourse and remove from it things that have led to violence and extremism.”... President Obama’s requested Congressional authorization to indefinitely use U.S. … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing, February 8-13, 2015