Gareth Porter

CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21. But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. … Continue reading “Generals Seek to Reverse Obama Withdrawal Decision”

When U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates accused Iran of "subversive activity" in Latin America Tuesday, it raised the question whether he is trying to discourage President Barack Obama from abandoning the hard-line policy of coercive diplomacy toward Iran he has favored for nearly three decades. In making a new accusation against Iran, just as Obama … Continue reading “Is Gates Undermining Another Opening to Iran?”

Contrary to Israel’s argument that it was forced to launch its air and ground offensive against Gaza in order to stop the firing of rockets into its territory, Hamas proposed in mid-December to return to the original Hamas-Israel cease-fire arrangement, according to a U.S.-based source who has been briefed on the proposal. The proposal to … Continue reading “Israel Rejected Hamas Cease-Fire Offer in December”

Until mid-2007, there was a serious political obstacle to a massive conventional war by Israel against Hamas in Gaza: the fact that Hamas had won free and fair elections for the Palestinian parliament and was still the leading faction in a fully legitimate government. But the George W. Bush administration helped Israel eliminate that obstacle … Continue reading “Bush Plan Eliminated Obstacle to Gaza Assault”

US military leaders and Pentagon officials have made it clear through public statements and deliberately leaked stories in recent weeks that they plan to violate a central provision of the US-Iraq withdrawal agreement requiring the complete withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraqi cities by mid-2009 by reclassifying combat troops as support troops. The … Continue reading “US Military Defiant on Key Terms of Iraqi Pact”

TEHRAN – As Barack Obama’s national security team assesses the challenge of Iran’s role in the Middle East, it confronts a paradox: Iran is seen as having ambitions of regional hegemony, but it lacks the military power normally associated with such a role. That paradox is explained by the fact that Iran’s position in the … Continue reading “Iran’s Regional Power Rooted in Shia Ties”

TEHRAN – Would a negotiated agreement between Iran and the Barack Obama administration be feasible if Obama sent the right signals? The answer one gets from Iranian officials and think-tank analysts is, "Yes, but…" The Iranian national security establishment has long salivated over the prospect of an agreement with Washington. But there’s a big difference … Continue reading “Is a US-Iran Deal on the Middle East Possible?”

TEHRAN – The main issue in Iran’s June 2009 presidential election is certain to be the country’s economic woes, but both candidates will be linking the economy to the issue of relations between Iran and the West, according to Iranian politicians and political analysts. Based on the bitter internal Iranian politics of the past three … Continue reading “Economy, Ties with West Are Key to Iran Polls”

TEHRAN – In light of the Iranian presidential election coming in mid-2009 and the US distaste for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President-elect Barack Obama is being advised to avoid any communication with Tehran until after Iranians vote next June. But Iranian political analysts who are familiar with the thinking of both Ahmadinejad and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah … Continue reading “Iranian Analysts Urge Obama Not to Delay Action on Talks”

TEHRAN – Iranian national security officials and political leaders have been carrying out an internal debate over how much freedom President-elect Barack Obama will have to change US policy toward Iran, and those who have argued that he will not be able to do so have gained the upper hand since Obama’s announcement of his … Continue reading “Iranian Leaders Debate Obama’s Policy Freedom”