by James Spencer International relations are roiled as they have not been for a generation. Syria is ablaze, and conflicts may engulf its neighbors. Russia has seized the Crimea and raised concerns among the Baltic states. China is asserting claims in the… Continue Reading
by James Spencer Brexit is a lose-lose situation, which could so easily have been avoided if the various elites had deigned to listen to their peoples and addressed their concerns. The signs of growing popular dissent have been obvious for… Continue Reading
by James Spencer After two false-starts, and sub-rosa talks between the Saudis and the Houthis, the UN-led peace process in Yemen may be back on track. When a peace is finally made—currently still in the balance, since both sides seem to believe that they can still… Continue Reading
by James Spencer “Removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is the only way to defeat Islamic State, and it remains the goal of Saudi policy,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on February 12, 2016. A few days later, the foreign… Continue Reading
by James Spencer Far from being a “Decisive Storm,” the intervention into Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition is foundering. The coalition swiftly cleared the coastal region and advanced across the desert interior from the Saudi border. But when they hit… Continue Reading