Ted Snider

Until it happened, it was unthinkable. The US has for decades guarded its role as the sole negotiator in the Middle East. It has insisted on being the chief arbiter of agreements and the architect and decider of partnerships. But on March 10, China emerged as the broker of a transformative agreement between Iran and … Continue reading “China Brokers Agreement Between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Sidelining the US”

In September 2022, the Nord Stream gas pipelines exploded in one of the most spectacular political and environmental acts of terrorism in history. In the days immediately following the attack, which cut Germany and Europe off from its gas supply and released enormous amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere, the West immediately pronounced judgement … Continue reading “Who Did Blow Up the Nord Stream Pipeline?”

On February 24, China published its "Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis." The US reacted very negatively very quickly. They reacted more negatively even than Ukraine. What is it about the Chinese proposal that so unnerves the US? It is not even a fully developed settlement proposal ripe for negotiation. There was … Continue reading “Why Is the US So Unhappy That China Offered a Peace Proposal?”

China, Balloons, and Spying On February 4, the US military shot down a Chinese balloon they claim was a surveillance balloon spying on US territory. The unprecedented "kinetic action against an airborne object . . . within United States or American airspace" was followed by three more objects being shot down by the US and … Continue reading “The US Is in Conflict With Countries for Doing Things We Know They’re Not Doing”

The US loudly proclaims that large, belligerent powers should listen when the world is united against their hostility toward their smaller neighbors. The world is united against the US. In thirty consecutive votes since 1992, the UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly condemned the US embargo of Cuba. In the most recent vote, on November 3, … Continue reading “The Coming Battle for the Liberation of Cuba”

"I want Russia to be defeated in Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron publicly told the media. But it’s not what he privately told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also said that now is not the right time for dialogue with Moscow and that France is ready to sustain "a longer conflict." That’s not what he … Continue reading “Public Versus Private: Managing Perceptions of the War in Ukraine”

The violence in Ukraine is unimaginable. But before the violence, there was violence. The military conflict in Ukraine has received an unprecedented amount of media coverage. The major US networks have given more coverage to Russia’s war in Ukraine than they did to America’s war in Iraq. But there were very important military dimensions prior … Continue reading “Ukraine: The Violence Before the Violence”

In his State of the Union Address on February 7, President Joe Biden once again told Ukraine that "America…will stand with you as long as it takes." In case the world didn’t hear, Biden moved to a more dramatic stage and repeated the words. Speaking from Kiev, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, … Continue reading “When Biden Says ‘As Long As It Takes,’ What Does Ukraine Hear?”

On February 3, following the balloon incident, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his trip to China. On February 18, he got a second chance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. It didn’t go well. After reprimanding China over the balloons "unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law" – for which … Continue reading “Is China Considering Supplying Russia With Weapons?”

Though they are being fought in the confusion of one catastrophic conflict, there are four closely related, but distinct, wars being fought in Ukraine. The first is the war within Ukraine. The second is the war between Russia and Ukraine. The third is the proxy war between NATO and Russia. And the fourth is the … Continue reading “Who Really Started the Ukraine Wars?”