U.S. Does Not Condemn Palestinian Violence – Rachel Ehrenfeld – The White House latest condemnation of the escalating violence in Jerusalem is akin to that issued by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Both are talking from both sides of the mouth. Last month Abbas encouraged the Palestinians to go the attack…continue…
The Palestinian Victimhood Narrative as an Obstacle to Peace – By Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman @Besa – The false Palestinian narrative of one-sided victimhood is a major hindrance to all efforts in the direction of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Global actors need to help the Palestinians move beyond wallowing in self-pity and rituals of bashing Israel, and towards difficult compromises with Israel…continue…
Palestinian Violence on the Rise, Again – Rachel Ehrenfeld – Following in Yasser Arafat’s footsteps, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas used an international stage to unleash yet another round of terror attacks against Israel. As international criticism against his personal corruption mounted…continue…
Russia’s Return to the Middle East – Norman A. Bailey – Russia is back in the Middle East in a wholesale fashion signing huge aircraft sales to Iran, making weapons supply contracts with Egypt and particularly, injecting air, naval and land forces into the super-sensitive Syrian coastal area, where it now has not just…continue…
News & Analysis
Middle East:
Underreach: The Syrian Periphery In Obama’s Grand Strategy – Nate Surba
America’s Fading Footprint in the Middle East – Yaroslav Trofimov, WSJ
Counterterrorism: Preventing the Next ISIL: An Evolving Global Approach to Terrorism – Sarah Sewall, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
Putin Views Obama as Being in “Panicked Retreat” from the World, von Eggert Says – Paul Goble
US pulling out Patriot missile batteries despite Turkey requesting they remain – BGN News
Turkey’s True Intentions in the War on Terror – The McGill International Review
Syrian Kurdish Leader: Moscow Wants to Work With Us – USNews
White House neutral on Palestinian terror attacks on Israelis – Jennifer Rubin, WP
Explaining the Toxic Obama-Netanyahu Marriage – The Atlantic
Putin’s Pianos. The largest audience for Putinąs Syrian concerto isn’t in the Middle East or the U.S. but in Europe – Andrew A. Michta
The Specter of Saudi Instability – Walter Russell Mead
Russia
Why Moldova May Be the Scariest Country on Earth. A new report details a black market in nuclear materials – Kathy Gilsinan
Petrostate Politics: ‘Witnesses of Higher Oil Prices’ – Maria Snegovaya
Europe
Free speech loses to Islamists at UK universities – Johanna Markind
Why Does Western Europe Seem So Determined to Commit Cultural Suicide? – Jean Kaufman
‘The Twilight of French Jewry, the Twilight of France’ – Daniel Halper
U.S.
NYC Police Ignore Muslim Brotherhood Assault on the Streets of New York – Joe Herring and Mark Christian
An Army of McClellans. The Syria Mess and the Pentagon’s Serial Failures – Walter Russell Mead
Iran
U.S. officials conclude Iran deal violates federal law – FoxNews
China
China Cyberspying on U.S., After No-Hacking Deal – Shane Harris
China Improving Its Ballistic Systems – The American Interest
Miscellaneous
President ‘Mumbo-Jumbo’. Obama’s preferred method for dealing with disagreement is denigration – Bret Stephens
Benghazi Committee: New Emails Show Clinton Promoted Blumenthal Interests in Libya – Steve Hayes
Islam and the West. A Call for Reformation and Dialogue – Brian Aull
Obama Official Says Putin’s New War Is a Sign of American Success – Tim Mak, Nancy Youssef
Capitol Hill
House:
Reviewing President Xi’s State Visit – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific – October 7, 2015
Protecting Maritime Facilities in the 21st Century: Are Our Nation’s Ports at Risk for a Cyber-Attack? – Homeland Security Committee, Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee – October 8, 2015
Examining the Syrian Humanitarian Crisis from the Ground (Part I) – Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa – October 8, 2015
Senate:
Russian Strategy and Military Operations – Armed Services Committee – October 8, 2015
Iranian Influence in Iraq and the Case of Camp Liberty – Armed Services Committee – October 7, 2015
The Situation in Afghanistan – Armed Services Committee – October 6, 2015
Ensuring an Efficient and Effective Diplomatic Security Training Facility for the Twenty-First Century – Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Oprations, and Bilateral International Development – October 8, 2015
The Economic and Political Future of Ukraine – Foreign Relations Committee – October 8, 2015
Assessing the North Korea Threat and U.S. Policy: Strategic Patience or Effective Deterrence? – Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy – October 7, 2015
Threats to the Homeland – Home Security & Government Accountability Committee – October 8, 2015
CRS Reports
Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations – Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs – October 5, 2015
CRS Insight: 2015 Leaders’ Summit on U.N. Peacekeeping (IN10370) – Matthew C. Weed, Specialist in Foreign Policy Legislation, Luisa Blanchfield, Specialist in International Relations – October 5, 2015
Legal Sidebar: FinCEN’s Money Laundering Death Penalty Temporarily Blocked – M. Maureen Murphy – October 6, 2015
The Internet Tax Freedom Act: In Brief – Jeffrey M. Stupak, Research Assistant – October 5, 2015