Iran Retreats From Syria

Another setback for Teheran.

Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

Peace, for a time.

Gaza After Sinwar

Has the calculus of either side changed?

Israeli Airstrike Kills Hezbollah’s Military Commander and Several Deputies

A massive follow-up to the exploding communications devices.

Israel Sees Nationwide Strike to Protest Hostage Killings

Massive numbers are taking to the streets in protest.

Israel Expands War in West Bank

Another step closer to a regional war.

Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assasinated in Iran

A bold strike that threatens to escalate a regional war.

No End in Sight for Gaza War

There is no obvious better state of the peace acceptable to both parties.

Ugliness in International Soccer

A long tradition continues unabated.

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Imminent?

The war could be ending soon.

Biden’s Gaza Dilemma

Some Democrats are threatening to sit November out.

Wider Middle East War Appears Inevitable

Israel and Iran’s proxies are on a collision course.

TikTok and the Israel-Hamas War

The popular app is influencing the opinions of its young user base.

Israel Agrees to Pause in Exchange for Hostage Release

Hamas gets rewarded for its crimes.

US-Iran Tensions Escalate

The war in Israel is in danger of expanding.

Israel at War: It’s a Reckoning

A roundup of news and opinon.

Israel at War after Gaza Attack

The 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war sees a re-escalation.

Deutschland Unter Alles

Germany’s economy is among the worst in the OECD.

Blake Hounshell, 1978-2023

A brilliant journalist is gone at 44.

The Qatar World Cup and Broad Drawing Conclusions From Unique Events

Sports fans enjoy watching sports. How much does politics impact that?

Retired Flag Officers Cashing In As Foreign Agents

An unsavory practice that’s mostly legal.

Tales from the Campaign Trail

Candidate quality can matter.

John Allen, Illegal Lobbying, and Foreign Influence

The retired general and think tank president is in hot water.

US Signs Deal with Taliban

It’s not clear what has been achieved.

Iraqi Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy

Amid protests over American airstrikes, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has become a target.

Further Evidence That The Fix Is In For Trump’s Senate Trial

Lindsey Graham is the latest Senator to make clear that he’s already made up his mind on impeachment.

Leader Of ISIS Believed Killed In Raid In Syria

There’s apparently big news in the fight against ISIS.

Elizabeth Warren And The Commander In Chief Test

So far at least, Elizabeth Warren is not doing a good job of articulating her foreign policy positions. That needs to change if she’s going to be a serious candidate.

American Public Mostly Ignoring War In Afghanistan

Eighteen years after it started, the American public seems to be mostly ignoring the war in Afghanistan. But that isn’t an excuse for not bringing it to an end.

Trump Says He Called Off Secret Camp David Meetings With Taliban

President Trump announced late yesterday that he had called off secret meetings with the Taliban. The fact that they were even going to happen reveals yet again what’s wrong with his foreign policy.

I.M. Pei, World Renowned Architect, Dies At 102

One of the most well-known architects of the modern era has passed away.

Taiwan Becomes First Asian Nation To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

Taiwan has become the first nation in Asia to legally recognize same-sex marriage.

Trump Taking Ill-Advised Militaristic Position Regarding Iran

The Trump Administration is taking an unnecessarily militaristic approach toward Iran, and that poses real dangers for the country and for the Middle East.

Caster Semenya and the Limits of Binary Gender

We segregate men and women in sports for good reason. How we do that is complicated.

Trump Ordered Security Clearance For Jared Kushner Despite Objections

President Trump personally overrode the objections of security officials, the White House Counsel, and the Chief of Staff to make sure his son-in-law got a security clearance.

Federal Investigators Now Looking Into Donations To Trump Inaugural Committee

Federal prosecutors are investigating the Trump Inaugural Committee, adding to the long list of the President’s legal troubles.

Trump Administration Allowing Saudis To Evade Responsibility For Khashoggi’s Death

As the Saudis continue to dissemble and put forward an utterly implausible explanation for the death of Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump Administration shows no sign of having a spine.

Will Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Undermine The Saudi Crown Prince? Probably Not.

The investigation of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is inching closer to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, but it seems unlikely to impact his hold on power.

Jamal Khashoggi’s Final Words Should Carry Far Beyond The Arab World

Jamal Khashoggi’s final column includes a message that should resonate far beyond the Arab world it was addressed to.

Saudi Arabia Cooking Up Impossible To Believe Defense In Khashoggi Murder

Saudi Arabia is reportedly developing an explanation for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi that defies credulity.

In The Khashoggi Crisis, Trump’s Greed And Moral Cowardice Are On Full Display

President Trump is choosing money and moral cowardice over human life in his response to the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.

Pompeo’s Bombastic Iran Speech Reveals The Emptiness Of Trump’s Iran Strategy

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a bombastic speech on Iran yesterday that reveals just how empty and dangerous the Trump Administration’s policy toward Iran actually is.

Mike Pompeo and the Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations

The new Secretary of State is an improvement over the worst Secretary of State in history.

Mueller Investigating Gulf State Influence, Too

Americans actings as agents for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been working hard to manipulate the President.

Why the UK Government Hasn’t Done More to Punish Russia

Theresa May’s government has not hit Russian oligarchs nearly as hard as they deserve because the UK benefits from turning a blind eye.

Kushner and Corruption

The circumstantial case for corruption by Kushner is growing.

‘Deep Fakes’ a Looming Crisis

An emerging technology will take “fake news” to a whole new level.

The Myth And Dangers Of “No Daylight” Between The United States And Israel

The Trump Administration has acted in a manner to create the impression that there is “no daylight” between the United States and Israel. This is a myth, and pursuing such a goal poses real dangers for America’s national interests.

Kim Jong-Un Extends Olive Branch To The South

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is extending an olive branch of sorts to South Korea while simultaneously claiming success in achieving a nuclear deterrent.