Despite talk of a possible breakthrough, the latest news on Iran nuclear negotiations rings an ominous, familiar bell. Dangerous compromises have been added to dangerous compromises. New “deadlines” have surpassed old deadlines, rendering the word meaningless. Extensions of deadlines have been extended further. And Iran, not the United States and its allies, has benefited and…
Why do Obama and Kerry Keep Trusting Russia on Syria?
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently met for extensive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Among other things, they discussed how to restart almost certainly futile talks between the Syrian regime and Syrian rebels. This latest American-Russian engagement must be seen not only in light of the failure…
Rediscovering America’s Voice
Ideas matter. They matter so much that they cause seismic shifts in history. Extremist ideas foster revolutionary fanatics so beholden to ideology that attempting to contain them can be like placing a Band-Aid on an open wound. Sept. 11 upended previous notions of deterrence; you can’t simply deter someone who intentionally dies for a cause….
In Syria, the Enemy of Our Enemy is Still Our Enemy
It’s as if they’re trying to outdo each other and set new historic records for cruelty. It’s as if the horrors that “total war” and totalitarianism produced in the twentieth century were not enough. The regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and the Islamic State have been devising ever more brutal and extreme means to…
The Rising Star of Iran
Iran is taking full advantage of the opportunities created by US appeasement and retrenchment. Indeed, many of Iran’s foremost strategic and ideological goals have already been achieved. Among them: the (2011) withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and the end of the US “freedom agenda;” the repression of the Green Movement and the subsequent successful…
Beware ISIS Strategy that Fortifies Russia, Iran, and Syria
In asking Congress to authorize the use of military force against Islamic State militants, President Obama stressed the importance of showing the world “we are united in our resolve.” Demonstration of united resolve against blood-thirsty terrorists whose ranks, ambitions and territory have grown exponentially is important. But forging strategy to battle ISIS without also forging…
U.S. “Partnership” with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and its Effect on Civil Society and Human Rights
Abstract Looking at Egypt before, during and after the Arab Spring, this paper examines the intersection of Christian Copts, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian army, moderate Muslims and secular groups. In turn, it examines the Obama administration’s policies toward Egypt. It discloses the surprising finding that the only consistent aspect of the administration’s policy toward…
Reaping What We Sow: Iran Perfects its Nuclear Program
In his first term, Obama pursued a minimalist response to Iran’s nuclear program and defended both the legitimacy of the brutally repressive Iranian regime and Iran’s “right” to “peaceful” nuclear technology. He gave Israel, which has the most to lose from a nuclear Iran, only tepid support. No matter how many times Iran refused to…
Hell in Syria. Indifference in America.
In Syria, more than 40,000 people have been murdered; millions have been forced to flee; countless souls have been psychologically and physically scarred for life; entire villages, towns and farming communities no longer exist; and throngs of desperate, starving children have lost both their parents and their homes. On December 30th, Senators McCain, Lieberman and…
Disturbing News from Russia Confirms Failure of Reset
Disturbing news Wednesday received less attention than warranted due to the Vice Presidential debate. Russia announced that it is backing out of a 20-year deal with the United States to dismantle WMDs in areas controlled by the former Soviet Union. In his Prague Address, Obama described nuclear weapons as dangerous relics of the Cold War…