Thalif Deen

When the United States sells state-of-the-art weapons systems to Arab nations, it invariably provides even more lethal and sophisticated arms to its steadfast ally, Israel, in order to help counter the firepower of its neighbors. So, when Egypt gets the M60A3 and M1A1 Abrams battle tanks, Israel gets the TOW-2A and Hellfire antitank missiles to … Continue reading “US Arms Sales Preserve Israel’s Edge”

UNITED NATIONS – The U.S. decision last week to proceed with a controversial civilian nuclear deal with India has triggered strong negative responses from peace activists, disarmament experts, and anti-nuclear groups. "The development of a nuclear/strategic alliance between the United States and India may promote arms racing between India and Pakistan, and [between] India and … Continue reading “US-India Nuke Deal May Spark Asian Arms Race”

UNITED NATIONS – Despite a massive boost in its peacekeeping force in Lebanon – from about 2,200 in July last year to some 13,700 last week – the United Nations has little good news to report regarding the politically troubled country. "I am deeply concerned that Lebanon remains in the midst of a debilitating political … Continue reading “Lebanon Crisis Persists Despite Beefed-Up Peacekeeping”

UNITED NATIONS – Faced with an unwinnable five-year war in Iraq, the United States may be looking towards the United Nations to extricate it from the growing military quagmire, according to diplomats and political analysts. "With the war turning out to be a huge political liability for the ruling Republican Party at the upcoming elections … Continue reading “Is US Eyeing UN as Dumping Ground for Iraq?”

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations is commemorating its annual "International Day of UN Peacekeepers" to mixed reviews, its successes being tainted by increasing accusations of sexual abuse and misconduct by its troops, and more recently, charges of illegal arms trafficking in return for gold in resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo. As the cost of … Continue reading “UN Peacekeeping Budget Soars Sky High”

The bloodless coup against a democratically elected government in Thailand last month has forced the United States to review its military relations and suspend aid to one of Washington’s long-standing political allies in Southeast Asia. The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, which is seeking UN sanctions against the military government in neighboring Myanmar … Continue reading “US Faces Dilemma
Over Thai Coup”

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations is on a global hunt for troops, military equipment, and logistical support to revamp its existing peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which has been mandated to monitor last week’s cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. "We have no formal offers yet," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday. "We would like … Continue reading “UN Seeks Mostly Western Troops for Lebanon Force”

UNITED NATIONS – Israel’s phenomenal victories against collective Arab armies in 1967 and later against Egypt in 1973 firmly established the Jewish state’s legendary military superiority in the Middle East. The 1967 war – called the Six Day War – was so swift it ended in less than a week, with Egypt losing 264 aircraft … Continue reading “Israel’s Military Invincibility Dented by Hezbollah”

As Israel’s bombing of Lebanon continues unabated into its fourth consecutive week, the United States says it stands ready to provide food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance to the thousands of internally displaced Lebanese caught in the crossfire. But Washington has also decided to accelerate the supply of lethal weapons to Israel – "perhaps intended to … Continue reading “US to Supply Food With One Hand, Arms With Other”

Israel is in violation of U.S. arms-control laws for deploying U.S.-made fighter planes, combat helicopters, and missiles to kill civilians and destroy Lebanon’s infrastructure in the ongoing six-day devastation of that militarily weak country. The death toll, according to published reports, is over 200 people – mostly civilians – while the economic losses have been … Continue reading “Israel Violates US Law With Attack on Lebanon”