2013: Obama Rising

by Robert E. Hunter The consensus in Washington is that President Barak Obama had a bad year in 2013.  Indeed, the Washington Post selected him as the person who had the worst year. The problem with a “consensus,” of course,… Continue Reading

Taking “Yes” For An Answer

by James A. Russell The image of the finger-wagging Israeli Prime Minister at the United Nations this week provides the international community with a powerful message: the world — and the United States — must tirelessly search for “yes” as an… Continue Reading

Iran Hawks Gear Up

by Mitchell Plitnick Not everyone shares the optimism surrounding the recent communication between Presidents Barack Obama and Hassan Rouhani. From Israel, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Monarchies and, of course, Washington, DC, voices of war are in a panic that tensions… Continue Reading

This Week in Iran News — Sept. 20-27

by Shawn Amoei Foreign Affairs US Secretary of State John Kerry had a 30-minute, one-on-one chat with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif following the P5+1 meeting. Both parties declared the talk positive and constructive. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that an… Continue Reading

Moscow and the Iranian-American Courtship

by Mark N. Katz The prospects for improved ties between Washington and Tehran have dramatically increased since Hassan Rouhani replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran in August 2013. This has made several parties quite nervous, including American conservatives (who… Continue Reading