Saudi Prince Mohammed’s Achilles Heel

by James M. Dorsey Emboldened by perceived White House support, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appears to have stepped up his risky, so far faltering effort to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East. The kingdom, despite Prime Minister Saad… Continue Reading

Dire Consequences if Trump Pulls out of Iran Deal

by Mitchell Plitnick Donald Trump rarely tries to hide his intentions. When he intends to do something reckless that will seriously compromise not just US security but that of the entire world, he is not shy about sharing. The prime… Continue Reading

Samuels, Rhodes, and the Iran Deal: Consider the Source

by Derek Davison A May 5 New York Times Magazine profile of Ben Rhodes, Barack Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor for strategic communications, has revived the debate over the negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).… Continue Reading

Israel: The Silent Stakeholder in Northern Iraq

by Marsha B. Cohen One of the more remarkable aspects of the recent news coverage of Iraq — the Maliki government’s loss of control over the northern region of the country, the deadly confrontations taking place between Iraqi Shia and Sunnis, and the… Continue Reading