Khashoggi Affair: Will US Now Put Its Interests First in Middle East?

by Robert E. Hunter Yesterday, President Donald Trump snapped back all sanctions on Iran that were removed as the U.S. part of the bargain under the July 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA). That agreement… Continue Reading

Even Bill Kristol is Worried About Bolton

by Jim Lobe Bill Kristol was not altogether pleased with with last week’s announcement of the appointment of John Bolton as Donald Trump’s next national security advisor. Indeed, Kristol, who remains probably the single most influential figure in the increasingly… Continue Reading

Avoiding Another Mistake in Lebanon

by Mitchell Plitnick No one has ever complained that the United States doesn’t pay enough attention to the Middle East. In recent years, however, one country that hasn’t gotten much attention in Washington is Lebanon. But on Tuesday, the Senate… Continue Reading

Bannon Down, Pentagon Up, Neocons In?

by Jim Lobe The apparent and surprisingly abrupt demise in Steve Bannon’s influence offers a major potential opening for neoconservatives, many of whom opposed Trump’s election precisely because of his association with Bannon and the “America Firsters,” to return to… Continue Reading

Syria: Neocons Get Almost Giddy

by Jim Lobe Thirty-six hours after the pre-dawn cruise-missile strike against Syria’s al-Shayrat airfield, neoconservative hawks, many of whom beat the drums for war in Iraq 14 years ago, are feeling the warm spring breezes of renewal and rejuvenation. Suddenly… Continue Reading