The US Should Evacuate Its Libya Embassy. Here’s Why.

by Wayne White A robust new military challenge to what passes for the Libyan central government has further destabilized the country and placed Western and other diplomatic missions there in greater danger. Although definitions for “failed states” vary, there should… Continue Reading

Is the Pope’s Safety Threatened by Israeli Jewish Extremists?

by Marsha B. Cohen Israel is putting up more than its usual security measures for the arrival of an important person, Pope Francis, who will be visiting the Holy Land May 24-26. He’ll be the third pope to visit Jerusalem since… Continue Reading

Russia, China Finally Sign $400 Billion Energy Deal: Why Now?

by Sara Vakhshouri After almost a decade of negotiations, Moscow reached a 400 billion dollar energy deal with Beijing yesterday, allowing the Russian state-controlled Gazprom to export gas to China for 30 years. The key agreement guarantees long-term market access… Continue Reading

Arrest of “Happy” Iranians Highlights Rouhani’s Domestic Battles

by Jasmin Ramsey* It was a perfect headline for the satirical online news site, “The Onion.” “Young Iranians Arrested for Being Too ‘Happy in Tehran’,” reads a May 20 New York Times blog title, with similar reports produced by news… Continue Reading

Leon Wieseltier Rewrites the Very Recent Past in Ukraine

by Derek Davison This Monday marked the end of a five-day conference (May 15-19) in Kiev, called “Ukraine: Thinking Together,” organized by The New Republic and specifically its literary editor, Leon Wieseltier. The conference press release promised that “an international group… Continue Reading