Daniel Luban

Daniel Luban writes for Inter Press Service.

Buy This Book: The American Way of War: How Bush’s Wars Became Obama’s

A year and a half into the presidency of Barack Obama, any hopes that he would usher in a dramatic rethinking of U.S. foreign policy have been more or less definitively dashed. Notwithstanding the wild-eyed warnings of right-wing hawks who see Obama as “the first post-American president,” with a covert agenda that is part Saul … Continue reading “Buy This Book: The American Way of War: How Bush’s Wars Became Obama’s“

New Israeli Settlements Plan Heightens Tensions

The White House reprimanded the Israeli government Friday over reports that Israel plans to build hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements, the latest in a series of showdowns between Washington and Jerusalem over settlement construction. The new construction plans represent a direct challenge to the Barack Obama administration’s Middle East peace plans, … Continue reading “New Israeli Settlements Plan Heightens Tensions”

State Dept Condemns Honduran ‘Coup d’Etat,’ Curtails Aid

Frustrated by the continued intransigence of the Honduran regime that ousted President Manuel Zelaya, the U.S. State Department followed through Wednesday on threats to cut off aid to Honduras. "Restoration of the terminated assistance will be predicated upon a return to democratic, constitutional governance in Honduras," the State Department said in a statement. Calling Zelaya’s … Continue reading “State Dept Condemns Honduran ‘Coup d’Etat,’ Curtails Aid”

Afghan Elections Reveal Growing Doubts About War

Washington continues to wait on results from last week’s elections in Afghanistan, but few analysts here expect the outcome to provide much of a boost to the U.S.-backed campaign against the Taliban, regardless of who wins. This skepticism about the elections is just one symptom of a growing sense of disillusionment in the U.S. about … Continue reading “Afghan Elections Reveal Growing Doubts About War”

Under Pressure from Hawks, Obama Glares at Iran

In the face of mounting pressure from hawks in Washington and the continued threat of military action from Israel, the Barack Obama Administration has been taking a harder line in its latest pronouncements about Iran. Recent media reports have suggested that the administration is leaning toward an end-of-September deadline for Tehran to respond to U.S. … Continue reading “Under Pressure from Hawks, Obama Glares at Iran”

Iran Nuclear Capability After 2013, Says US Intelligence

Iran is unlikely to be able to produce enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) for a nuclear weapon until at least 2013, according to a U.S. government intelligence estimate made public Thursday. The estimate, which sets a notably later date for Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear capability than other claims that have recently been circulated in … Continue reading “Iran Nuclear Capability After 2013, Says US Intelligence”

Pro-Israel Groups Push Back Against Settlements Policy

As the clash between the U.S. and Israeli governments over settlements in the occupied territories intensifies, many of Israel’s traditionally staunch defenders in Washington have been pushing back, tentatively but with increasing assertiveness, to urge the Barack Obama administration to alleviate its pressure on Israel. The settlements battle has put these defenders in a delicate … Continue reading “Pro-Israel Groups Push Back Against Settlements Policy”

Honduras: Dictatorships and Double Standards Revisited

When the Honduran military deposed President Manuel Zelaya on Sunday, in an incident that stirred memories of Cold War military coups in Latin America, it also seems to have caused at least some foreign policy commentators here to revert to positions reminiscent of the Cold War. While the Organization of American States (OAS), the U.N. … Continue reading “Honduras: Dictatorships and Double Standards Revisited”

Iran Electoral Chaos Energizes Neoconservative Hawks

As U.S. President Barack Obama attempts to navigate the treacherous currents of the ongoing political crisis in Iran, he faces a heated attack on his right flank from neoconservatives and other right-wing hawks, who are urging him both to offer unequivocal support to the protesters supporting moderate presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and to scuttle … Continue reading “Iran Electoral Chaos Energizes Neoconservative Hawks”

Hawks Push ‘Three-State Solution’ for Palestine

As U.S. President Barack Obama prepares to deliver a major foreign policy speech in Cairo and his administration pushes aggressively for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, neoconservatives and other foreign policy hawks back home are calling on him to scrap the two-state solution altogether and consider alternatives to Palestinian statehood. The most prominent alternative they … Continue reading “Hawks Push ‘Three-State Solution’ for Palestine”