Rise of Terror Groups Demands Hard Look at US Policy

by Derek Davison The resurgence of “Salafi-jihadist” terrorist groups is once again at the forefront of national security thinking in Washington. A report released this week by the RAND Corporation, “A Persistent Threat: The Evolution of al Qa’ida and Other… Continue Reading

Leadership and Climate Change

by Jim Lobe While this blog is devoted to U.S. policy toward the Middle East, it should come as no surprise to regular readers that I regard climate change as likely to be the greatest challenge faced by the United… Continue Reading

Toward Better US-Iran Relations

by Derek Davison The challenge of rebuilding the once strong but now broken ties between the United States and Iran was the topic of a June 3 Atlantic Council event, “US-Iran Relations: Past, Present, and Future.” The discussion, moderated by… Continue Reading

The Liabilities of Netanyahu’s Red Line

Jeffrey Lewis provides a thorough analysis of Benjamin Netanyahu’s graphic aid and theory presented at the 67th UN General Assembly last week and explains why attacking Iran militarily based on the Israeli Prime Minister’s red line is problematic and counterproductive:… Continue Reading

Leading Neocon Says She Wants To Feed ThinkProgress Writer To Sharks

Reposted by arrangement with Think Progress AbramsLast week, a well-connected neoconservative pundit and board member of a high-profile right-wing pressure group wrote, after the prisoner swap deal that freed an Israeli soldier, that Israel should now take Palestinian militants —… Continue Reading