Operations in Yemen: What’s Afoot?

by James Spencer The conflict in Yemen is frequently described as sectarian, with the Houthis usually described as “Shi’a.” In fact, the situation in Yemen, tragic as it is for Yemenis caught up in it, is far more political than… Continue Reading

Obama in the Middle East: Condominium Or Equilibrium?

by Jim Lobe In the last 48 or so hours, U.S. warplanes began bombing Islamic State (ISIS or IS) targets in and around Tikrit in support of the Iran-backed and Shi’a-led Iraqi government. At the same time, Washington provided unspecified… Continue Reading

The Arab World Has Changed; So Should Washington

by Emile Nakhleh As the Egyptian revolution against Mubarak celebrates its third anniversary, the military junta under General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is resurrecting dictatorship under the veneer of “constitutional” legitimacy and on the pretense of fighting “terrorism.” Syria is still… Continue Reading

Elliott Abrams: Ironist Sublime

With neo-conservatives, you never know whether their preaching (especially about issues such as human rights or democracy) shows a complete lack of self-consciousness (given their long support for brutal autocracies firmly allied with Israel and/or the United States), genuine amnesia,… Continue Reading