US Foreign Policy

Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks) — “”During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday, incoming chair of the Senate Foreign Appropriations Committee Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told the foreign leader Congress would “follow his lead” on a bill to reinforce sanctions on Iran. “In January of next year, there will […]

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

President Obama’s Biggest Mideast Policy Challenges, 2015

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Barack Obama wanted to be the president who got the US out of Afghanistan and Iraq, and turned America’s diplomatic energies to the more promising Pacific Rim. 2014 was the year in which he failed decisively at these objectives. He has had to keep 10,000 US military personnel […]

Israel

U.S. Twists Arms to Help Defeat Resolution on Palestine

contributors

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United States re-asserted its political and economic clout – and its ability to twist arms and perhaps metaphorically break kneecaps – when it successfully lobbied to help defeat a crucial Security Council resolution on the future of Palestine this week. Nadia Hijab, executive director of Al-Shabaka: The […]

Iraq

How the Iraq Wars began with the Invasion of Panama

contributors

By Greg Grandin | (Tomdispatch.com) — As we end another year of endless war in Washington, it might be the perfect time to reflect on the War That Started All Wars — or at least the war that started all of Washington’s post-Cold War wars: the invasion of Panama. Twenty-five years ago this month, early […]

Barack Obama

Pope Francis Backs Obama’s Cuba Opening

contributors

By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON, Dec 18 2014 (IPS) – In perhaps his boldest foreign-policy move during his presidency, Barack Obama Wednesday announced that he intends to establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba. While the president noted that he lacked the authority to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo against Havana, he issued directives that will permit […]

Israel/ Palestine

Palestine to present Resolution on ending Occupation to Security Council “By Monday”

contributors

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday that a resolution to end the Israeli occupation will be submitted to the UN Security Council “in the coming few hours, or maybe on Monday.” Erekat told the official Palestinian radio station that he would meet US Secretary of State John Kerry in a European […]

Egypt

Israel, Egypt Implicated in Torture: Middle East Reactions to Senate Report lament own Involvement

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | — That the release in Washington of a dense 450 page report on CIA torture conducted a decade ago would provoke massive demonstrations in the Middle East all along struck me as unlikely. It could perhaps provoke small terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, but those groups are already plotting out attacks […]

Bashar al-Assad

Could Years more of Syrian Civil War be Avoided by Comprehensive Talks with Iran?

contributors

By James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles The most serious attempt to bring the Syrian regime and representatives of the opposition together around a negotiating table together took place at the 2014 Geneva II peace talks. The talks were based on the Geneva Communiqué which had been signed in 2012 at a meeting […]

Iran

In Slam at Hard Liners, Iran Leader Khamenei’s Aide Calls For End To Criticism Of Nuclear Talks

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari (RFE/RL) A top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for an end to domestic criticism of Tehran’s nuclear negotiations with major world powers. Former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, who advises Khamenei on international affairs, said on November 30 that since the supreme leader has endorsed an extension […]