Ted Snider

On September 28, 2000, Ariel Sharon led a group of Likud politicians, surrounded by a thousand armed police, up the Temple Mount, home of the Al-Aqsa Mosque: an unprecedented provocation at one of Islam’s holiest sites. The next day, as thousands of Palestinians protested, Israeli police opened fire on the protesters, and, the day after … Continue reading “Israel’s War of Provocation”

Reprinted with permission from MondoWeiss. After 243 Palestinian deaths, more than 1,900 Palestinians wounded, 16,800 Palestinian homes destroyed, tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes and a refused Egyptian proposal of a ceasefire, Israel has accepted an Egyptian ceasefire. But it never had to happen. On April 6, 2021, the United States returned … Continue reading “A War of Choice, a War of Permission”

After a slow start in Iran, the Biden administration was somehow convinced to alter course on the nuclear negotiations and become serious. Though both sides still accuse the other of being unrealistic on sanction relief, both sides now believe the other is committed to resuscitating the JCPOA nuclear agreement. Iran’s top negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, recently … Continue reading “US Foreign Policy: Some Things Change, Some Things Don’t”

Rafeal Correa served as president of Ecuador from 2007-2017, bringing in the socialist Citizen’s Revolution for the people of Ecuador. In 2017, Correa’s vice president, Lenín Moreno, was elected president. The people elected him on the promise that he would continue his predecessor’s policies. However, with US backing, Moreno underwent a sudden conversion to the … Continue reading “Ecuador’s Stolen Election”

The President of Venezuela was removed from power with U.S. assistance due to his left leaning politics, his clashes with conservatives and his objections to American power and influence in Latin America. The coup leaders consulted with the United States for some time in preparation for the coup. When the leader of the coup declared … Continue reading “Coups in Venezuela: The Long Legacy Continues”

Israel keeps attacking and sabotaging Iran; Iran keeps showing restraint. Israel is running out of patience to stop the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal; Iran keeps showing patience. In the summer of 2020, Israel sabotaged Iran’s Natanz civilian nuclear enrichment facility. They have bombed Iran’s allies in Lebanon, and they have bombed their allies in … Continue reading “Is Israel Sabotaging Itself?”

On March 4, 2021, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz very publicly told Fox News that the "Israeli military is updating plans to strike Iranian nuclear sites and is prepared to act independently." He added that "If the world stops them before, it’s very much good. But if not, we must stand independently and we must … Continue reading “When Israel Leaves its Calling Card”

Reprinted with permission from MondoWeiss. Israel has accused Iran of doing many nefarious things. But the historical record shows that whatever Israel accuses Iran of, it is likely that Israel is already doing it. For example, Israel has repeatedly accused Iran of destabilizing the region by malignantly spreading across the region and forming alliances and … Continue reading “If Israel Accuses Iran of Doing Something, Israel Is Likely Already Doing It”

In 1963, the US would remove British Guyana’s popular democratically elected Prime Minister, Chedi Jagan, in a coup. The people of Guyana would live under a dictatorship and would not get another chance to elect a Prime Minister until 1992. They elected Chedi Jagan. Half a century later, in 2002, the US would remove Venezuela’s … Continue reading “Latin American Coups and Bothersome Democracy”

The Biden administration promised that things would change. The first month has already offered a few opportunities for an early measure of whether that change includes coups. It hasn’t been a great start. Ukraine One of the early signs that coup plotters were still welcome in the club was Biden’s nomination of Victoria Nuland for … Continue reading “American Coups: Biden’s First Tests”