The Collapse of Order in the Middle East

by Chas Freeman* Will Rogers once observed that “when you get into trouble 5,000 miles from home, you’ve got to have been looking for it.”  It’s a good deal more than 5.000 miles to Baghdad or Damascus from here.  And,… Continue Reading

Iran Nuclear Talks: Ironies, Observations and a Bottom Line

by Chas Freeman Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 are meeting amidst rapidly evolving international and regional circumstances. Whether they succeed or fail, their discussions will have an impact on much more than just nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.… Continue Reading

Turbulent Middle East Poses Challenges for U.S. Policy

by Jim Lobe via IPS News New and unexpected strains in Washington’s ties with two of its closest Middle Eastern allies — Saudi Arabia and Turkey — have underlined the difficult challenges the administration of President Barack Obama faces in… Continue Reading

Rethinking Relationships – A Conversation with Chas Freeman

via SUSRIS SUSRIS Editor’s Note: Over the last two years the twin crises in Egypt and Syria have placed a heavy diplomatic and security burden on leaders and policymakers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Washington and Riyadh have worked closely… Continue Reading

Don’t Just Sit There, Bomb Something

by Chas Freeman An acquaintance who, like me, used to work on foreign affairs in the U.S. government, told me the other day that he thought that, in going after Bashar al-Assad, President Barak Obama had decided on an approach… Continue Reading