Obama Apparently Giving Up On Quixotic Bid For ‘Middle East Peace’

President Obama has apparently come to the same realization as many of his predecessors, that trying to craft a legacy by single-handedly bring about “Middle East Peace” is largely a waste of time.

Ben Carson’s Odd Relationship With Truth

As Ben Carson rises in the polls, it’s worth noting his many examples of having what can only be called a very odd relationship with truth and the basic facts of history.

U.S. Intelligence: Russian Passenger Jet Likely Brought Down Over Sinai Peninsula By A Bomb

American intelligence officials are saying that a Russian passenger jet that went down over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula was most likely brought down by a bomb.

U.S., Cuba Reopen Embassies For First Time In 54 Years

There are mutual embassies in Havana and Washington for the first time in 54 years. It certainly took long enough.

U.S. And Cuba To Reopen Embassies After 54 Years

For the first time since 1961, there will soon be an American Embassy in Havana, and a Cuban Embassy in Washington. It’s well past time that this happened.

Former Egyptian President Morsi Sentenced to Death

Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first truly-elected president, has been sentenced to death by the government which ousted him in a coup.

China Warns U.S. About North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal

Chinese analysts are telling their American counterparts that North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is far more sophisticated than previously believed.

Rubio’s Israel Litmus Test For An Iran Nuclear Deal Is Foolish And Unrealistic

Conditioning an Iranian nuclear deal on recognition of Israel is foolish, unrealistic, and very bad diplomacy.

The New Republican Orthodoxy On Israel

More than ever before, even mild criticism of Israel seems to be verboten among Republicans.

ISIL Destroys Nimrud

The gang calling itself the Islamic State has destroyed another historical site.

ISIS is What it Says it Is

The Atlantic has a fascinating cover story by Graeme Wood titled “What ISIS Really Wants.”

Arnaud de Borchgrave Dead at 88

The intrepid foreign correspondent and editor Arnaud de Borchgrave has died, aged 88, of cancer.

ISIS Has Arrived In Libya, Just How Big A War Are We Looking At?

ISIS apparently now has a foothold in Libya, and is making inroads in Yemen.

King Abdullah Of Saudi Arabia Dies At 90, Crown Prince Salman Becomes King

A big change in an important nation in the most volatile part of the world.

Rand Paul, Marco Rubio Exchange Barbs Over Cuba Policy Changes

Two potential candidates for the Republican nomination in 2016 traded barbs this week over the President’s new policy toward Cuba.

The Amorality Of Dick Cheney And The Right In Response To The Truth About C.I.A. Torture

Vice-President Cheney’s amoral defense of torture has come to define how most conservatives view the issue, and that’s a problem.

Egyptian Court Drops Charges Against Mubarak, Further Cementing Renewed Military Rule

Well, so much for that “people’s revolt” that brought down a military dictator.

The Case Against Repatriating Museum Artifacts


Who should own antiquity?

‘Khorasan Group’ is US Creation; It’s Still Dangerous

The Khorasan Group is, functionally, al Qaeda. Or is it?

Yemeni Rebels Seize Portion Of Capital

While the world pays attention to Syria and Iraq, Yemen is once against lurching into chaos.

Israel’s ‘Secret’ Nukes

Everyone knows that Israel has had nuclear weapons for decades. Don’t tell anyone—it’s a secret.

Obama’s Anti-ISIS Coalition Seems To Exist Only In His Mind

Despite the President’s assurances of an international coalition, the rest of the world doesn’t seem all that interested in joining the fight.

Gaza Cease Fire Extended, But Prospects For Bigger Peace Deal Seem Dim

The two sides in Gaza keep extending the humanitarian cease fire, but remain miles apart on the major issues dividing them.

Gaza Truce Ends As Hamas Refuses To Extend Humanitarian Ceasefire

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

As Gaza War Winds Down, What Happens Next?

The war in Gaza seems to be winding down, but the underlying issues remain.

72 Hour Gaza Ceasefire Collapses In Less Than Two Hours

A glimmer of hope in Gaza is quickly snuffed out.

Despite International Pressure, Israeli Public Supports Netanyahu On The War In Gaza

The Israeli public if overwhelmingly behind the war in Gaza, and that means it will probably continue for awhile.

Israel Rejects Temporary Cease Fire Plan As Gaza Conflict Continues To Rage

Hopes for a temporary respite in the Gaza conflict faded away today.

Israel Begins Ground Operations In Gaza

The next phase of Israel’s attack on Hamas has begun.

Hamas Rejects Egyptian Cease Fire Deal Israel Had Accepted

An effort yesterday to bring about a cease fire in Gaza came to naught when Hamas rejected the proposal.

Barriers to US-Europe Trade Deal Remain

A US-EU free trade zone is a no-brainer. But the devil is in the details.

Islam And World War One

The First World War played an intriguing role in the birth of the radical Islam we are dealing with today.

Hillary Clinton Wasn’t a Horrible Secretary of State

Yet another autiobiography invites public discussion about her accomplishments.

New Dictator Wins Egyptian Presidential Election

Different name, same result in Egypt.

Obama’s Cloudy Foreign Policy Vision

Once again, President Obama’s attempt to communicate a foreign policy vision falls short.

Meet Egypt’s New Military Dictator

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is a name we’re likely to be seeing in the news for some time to come.

New Russian Law Requires Bloggers To Register With The Kremlin

Vladimir Putin wants to put the Internet genie back in the bottle.