The Tangled Mess in the Persian Gulf Echoes 1914

by Mitchell Plitnick The current situation in the Persian Gulf is all too similar to Europe in 1914, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). In “Averting the Middle East’s 1914 Moment,” the ICG makes the… Continue Reading

A Grim Assessment of U.S.-Iran Tensions

by Mitchell Plitnick Speaking to an adoring audience at the annual summit of the far-right Christians United for Israel (CUFI), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured the audience that the Trump administration was determined to continue ratcheting up pressure on… 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