Cuba Today, But (Alas) Not Iran Tomorrow

by Robert E. Hunter Following President Barak Obama’s decision to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba, it is remarkable to see so much speculation about whether this will set a precedent for a restoration of US ties with Iran The word… Continue Reading

Cuba and Iran

by Jim Lobe Since Obama’s announcement last week that he will normalize relations with Cuba, a number of commentators have analyzed what impact this might have on US-Iranian ties, particularly with respect to the ongoing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.… Continue Reading

Obama’s Interesting Fourth Quarter

by Paul R. Pillar “My presidency is entering the fourth quarter. Interesting stuff happens in the fourth quarter, and I’m looking forward to it.” — Barack Obama, December 19, 2014 One should be careful about drawing conclusions concerning the intentions… Continue Reading

Friends, Not Just Enemies, of an Iranian Nuclear Deal are Imperiling It

by Paul R. Pillar U.S. and Iranian negotiators are in Geneva resuming work on an agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program. Whether the negotiations succeed in producing a deal is still very much in doubt, but not because it is… Continue Reading

The National Effort at Self-Exoneration on Torture

by Paul R. Pillar The nation’s current attempt at catharsis through a gargantuan report prepared by the Democratic staff of a Senate committee exhibits some familiar patterns. Most of them involve treating a government agency as if it were Dorian Gray’s… Continue Reading