Month: February 2009

The rise of Avigdor Lieberman as the kingmaker of Israeli politics is a disaster for American supporters of Israel and for U.S. interests in the region, albeit not entirely a surprise, at least to regular visitors to this space. The circumstance of his entry into the government as minister of foreign affairs or some other … Continue reading “The Rise of Avigdor Lieberman”

"Iacta alea est" – the die is cast – said Julius Caesar and crossed the River Rubicon on his way to conquer Rome. That was the end of Roman democracy. We don’t have a Julius Caesar. But we do have an Avigdor Lieberman. When he announced his support the other day for the setting up … Continue reading “The Great Gamble”

It is difficult to avoid the perception, as the U.S. (and world) economy continues to melt down, that our political leaders are suffering something resembling a mass delusion or even a group psychosis. One may hope that the insertion of 17,000 more U.S. troops into Afghanistan, for example, is what some Obama aides have told … Continue reading “Empire at the End of Its Rope”

On Feb. 17, Judge T.S. Ellis added a new twist in the case of two former American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) executives indicted under the 1917 Espionage Act. In what the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Secrecy News describe as a major blow to the prosecution, Judge Ellis ruled [.pdf] that J. William Leonard can … Continue reading “Should AIPAC Decide What’s Classified?”

Updated at 8:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 22, 2009At least seven Iraqis were killed and another 17 were wounded in the latest violence. Meanwhile, security forces are on the lookout for an Iraqi lawmaker accused of terrorist activities, while joint U.S. and Iraqi forces launched a new military operation in Ninewa province. No Coalition deaths were … Continue reading “Sunday: 7 Iraqis Killed, 17 Wounded”

Seventy percent of Iraq’s doctors are reported to have fled the war-torn country in the face of death threats and kidnappings. Those who remain live in fear, often in conditions close to house arrest. "I was threatened I would be killed because I was working for the Iraqi government at the Medical City," Dr. Thana … Continue reading “Iraqi Doctors in Hiding Treat as They Can”

Egyptian authorities are continuing to prevent humanitarian aid from crossing the border into the Gaza Strip, according to local sources. "Until now, only about a quarter of all humanitarian aid to arrive in Egypt has made it across the border into Gaza," Hatem Al-Bulk, journalist and political activist, told IPS. "It’s all piling up in … Continue reading “Border Politics Slows Aid to Gaza”

Updated at 11:02 p.m. ESt, Feb. 21, 2009At least four Iraqis were killed and 9 more were wounded during light violence. A U.S. soldier was killed in combat in Baghdad, while the DoD reported another soldier died from non-combat-related injuries. Also, Iraqi officials formally opened a remodeled and renamed Abu Ghraib prison, which was infamous … Continue reading “Saturday: 2 U.S. Soldiers, 4 Iraqis Killed; 9 Iraqis Wounded”

Our new Director of National Intelligence has some good news [.pdf] for you soccer-moms. Your primary "near-term security concern" no longer needs to be the prospect of getting nuked in your jammies by Muslim terrorists who have somehow managed to get their hands on a nuclear-weapon. No, indeedy. Your primary security concern should now be … Continue reading “The Greatest Threat to Our National Security”

President Barack Obama decided to approve only 17,000 of the 30,000 troops requested by Gen. David McKiernan, the top commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, and Gen. David Petraeus, the CENTCOM commander, after McKiernan was unable to tell him how they would be used, according to a White House source. But Obama is … Continue reading “Obama Nixed Full Afghan Surge After Quizzing Brass”