“Diamonds for Peanuts” and the Double Standard

by Marsha B. Cohen The New York Times’ op-ed page headlined “Hopes for Iran”, which offers half a dozen cautious-to-negative views on Iran’s president-elect Hassan Rouhani, unexpectedly links to a “Related Story” published last year: Should Israel Accept a Nuclear Ban?… Continue Reading

Israel Not Pushing Obama to Arm Syrian Rebels

by Barbara Slavin via IPS News A lack of Israeli pressure for the U.S. to intervene and Israel’s ability to go after sensitive targets in Syria on its own are factors in the Barack Obama administration’s reluctance to get more… Continue Reading

Book Review: “Original Sins” Fuelled U.S.-Iran Enmity

By Gary Sick via IPS News NEW YORK, Nov 26 2012 (IPS) – I have never read a book quite like this. “Becoming Enemies” is the latest product of the indispensable National Security Archive, the Washington non-profit that has given new… Continue Reading

What is Iran up to these days?

Laura Rozen has an exclusive on alleged Iranian attempts to establish back-channel contacts with non-official Americans ahead of the (hopefully) resumed nuclear negotiations: Mostafa Dolatyar, a career Iranian diplomat who heads the Iranian think tank, the Institute for Political and… Continue Reading

Shimon Peres, Israel’s Nuclear Weapons Program and Iran

by Marsha B. Cohen Presenting Israeli President Shimon Peres with the US Medal of Freedom on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama said: …in him we see the essence of Israel itself — an indomitable spirit that will not be denied. He’s… Continue Reading