Jim Lobe

Jim Lobe writes for Inter Press Service.

Despite Iraq Withdrawal, Greater Mideast Not Looking Good

While President Barack Obama Monday touted the continuing U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq as a key marker in the success of his regional policies, the latest news from the Greater Middle East, as well as a new public opinion survey, is far less encouraging. Not only was July the deadliest month for U.S. troops in … Continue reading “Despite Iraq Withdrawal, Greater Mideast Not Looking Good”

Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy Increasingly Under Siege

Monday’s release by WikiLeaks of tens of thousands of classified documents detailing the travails of the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s secret support for the Taliban from 2004 through 2009 comes amid a growing crisis of confidence in the nearly 9-year-old war. Coming on top of the steady increase in U.S. and NATO casualties … Continue reading “Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy Increasingly Under Siege”

Analyst: Israel’s Next War Could Be Lebanon

While speculation over a possible Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities intensifies, at least one influential analyst is calling on Washington to focus more on the likelihood of a new war breaking out between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and how to prevent or contain it. In his eight-page “Contingency Planning Memorandum” released last week … Continue reading “Analyst: Israel’s Next War Could Be Lebanon”

Obama Says U.S. Will ‘Redouble’ Efforts Against Somali Islamist Group

U.S. President Barack Obama has said Washington will "redouble" its efforts against the Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab (The Youth), whose deadly bombings in Kampala, Uganda on Sunday are likely to result in stepped-up U.S. military and other assistance to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu. In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation … Continue reading “Obama Says U.S. Will ‘Redouble’ Efforts Against Somali Islamist Group”

Stirrings of a New Push for Military Option on Iran

"From a marketing point of view, you don’t introduce new products in August," explained then-White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card back in September 2002, in answer to queries about why the administration of George W. Bush had not launched its campaign to rally public opinion behind invading Iraq earlier in the summer. And while … Continue reading “Stirrings of a New Push for Military Option on Iran”

Obama and Netanyahu All Smiles

Insisting that the bond between their two nations was “unbreakable,” U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged all smiles from their long-awaited White House meeting Tuesday. Speaking before reporters, the two men, whose last encounter in March appeared to confirm a crisis in bilateral ties, lavished compliments on each other. “[T]he … Continue reading “Obama and Netanyahu All Smiles”

Key Congressional Committee Votes to Lift Cuba Travel Ban

In a major victory for anti-embargo forces, a key Congressional committee voted here Wednesday to lift restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba. If passed by both houses of Congress, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act will also ease restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports to the Caribbean island that were imposed by … Continue reading “Key Congressional Committee Votes to Lift Cuba Travel Ban”

After McChrystal: What Now?

Nearly a week after the abrupt demise of Washington’s top commander in Afghanistan, U.S. strategy for reversing the flood of bad news that has been recently pouring out of that strife-torn country remains as unclear as ever. Led by Sen. John McCain and many of the same neoconservatives who championed the war in Iraq, hawks … Continue reading “After McChrystal: What Now?”

Israel Lobby Riding High in US Election Run-Up

Despite the growing international condemnation and isolation incurred by the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the right-wing leadership of the so-called "Israel Lobby" here is riding high in the U.S. Congress. So far this week, it has chalked up a key victory on Capitol Hill in its longstanding effort to impose "crippling sanctions" against … Continue reading “Israel Lobby Riding High in US Election Run-Up”

Timing of Afghan Mineral Story Wealth Evokes Skepticism

The timing of the publication of a major New York Times story on the vast untapped mineral wealth that lies beneath Afghanistan’s soil is raising major questions about the intent of the Pentagon, which released the information.Given the increasingly negative news that has come out of Afghanistan – and of U.S. strategy there – some … Continue reading “Timing of Afghan Mineral Story Wealth Evokes Skepticism”