Month: February 2009

Last December, I spoke to the nonpartisan Jamestown Foundation’s annual conference on al-Qaeda. My talk was a worldwide survey of how America’s war against Islamism had gone in 2008; an analysis of al-Qaeda’s current fortunes and growth potential; and an assessment of whether U.S. policies were adequately protecting genuine U.S. national interests as the Obama … Continue reading “Lobby? What Lobby?”

The Israeli invasion of Gaza and the slaughter of civilians was such an egregious error in judgment that the usual suspects are working overtime to make it all look like a heroic defense of democratic values. The expected beneficiary of the "defensive action," the ruling Kadima Party, so miscalculated that it is now likely to … Continue reading “Talking Turkey About Israel”

Presidential candidate Barack Obama promised during his campaign that his administration will take a new approach to the crises in the Middle East and, in particular, to the long-standing confrontation with Iran. He promised that his administration would negotiate with Iran without any preconditions. Most recently, President Obama told the al-Arabiya TV, "If countries like … Continue reading “Iran’s Fist Is Clenched for a Reason”

Updated at 8:58 p.m. EST, Feb. 9, 2009Four U.S. soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing in Mosul. At least 9 Iraqis were killed and another 29 were wounded in various attacks, including one Iraqi who was an interpreter for the Americans who were killed. Also, Iraqi officials admitted they have custody of four Guantánamo … Continue reading “Monday: 4 US Soldiers, 9 Iraqis Killed; 29 Iraqis Wounded”

Remember Kyrgyzstan? Longtime readers of this space will recall our extensive coverage of that country’s “Tulip Revolution,” also dubbed the “Pink Revolution,” way back in those heady days when George W. Bush’s “global democratic revolution” was said to be the wave of the future. The so-called color revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine, and the landlocked and … Continue reading “Kyrgyzstan’s Revenge”

On the same day as President Barack Obama’s inauguration, China issued a white paper outlining its national defense strategy. In that paper, China pointed to a security situation that was “improving steadily” overall. At the same time, the paper explicitly referred to the growing threat from increased U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Over Beijing’s protest, … Continue reading “A Choice to Make on Arms Exports”

The votes are not officially tabulated yet, and it will take a while for the implications [.pdf] of the recent provincial elections in Iraq to become apparent. But it is not too early to take note that they were conducted almost entirely by the Iraqis themselves, under Iraqi rather than American direct supervision, and that … Continue reading “Iraqis Back in Charge?”

Just Foreign Policy has prepared this brief but excellent video about recent Western intervention in Iran. Most Americans are unaware that the U.S. and UK orchestrated a coup against a democratically elected Iranian government in the 1950s. Antiwar.com urges everyone to go to the Iran action page at Just Foreign Policy to support friendship and … Continue reading “The Folly of Attacking Iran: Lessons From History”

Updated at 11:50 a.m. EST, Feb. 9, 2009New attacks left at least 8 Iraqis killed and another 26 wounded. Baghdad suffered a series of roadside bomb attacks, but Ninewa and Diyala provinces also saw violence. A U.S. soldier died from non-combat incident as well. Meanwhile, the fate of several Guantánamo detainees release to Iraqi authorites … Continue reading “Sunday: 1 US Soldier, 8 Iraqis Killed; 25 Iraqis Wounded”

At least five Iraqis were killed and 13 others were wounded in the latest incidents. A U.S. soldier died of non-combat causes near Balad yesterday, and a Syrian national was also killed. Meanwhile, Estonia has formally agreed to withdraw forces from Iraq. A number of Shi’ite candidates appealed the results of last week’s provincial elections … Continue reading “Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 5 Iraqis Killed; 13 Iraqis Wounded”