Next Steps in Afghanistan

by Alia Ahmed In an about-turn of its two decades-old policy on Afghanistan, President Donald Trump tweeted in mid-December his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan (and Syria). Until September last year, the United States had held firmly to… Continue Reading

Rare Glimpse into Inner Workings of American Empire in Middle East

by Edward Hunt In recent testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, four former U.S. diplomats provided remarkably candid commentary on recent U.S. involvement in the Middle East, revealing a number of the most closely guarded secrets of U.S. diplomacy. The four… Continue Reading

Former Bush Diplomats Push Back on Criticism of Iran Deal

by Derek Davison and Jim Lobe Two senior retired diplomats warned Friday that the U.S. would isolate itself from a global consensus if Congress rejected the nuclear agreement concluded between the P5+1 and Iran earlier this month.

More Sanctions, More Problems

Sanctions Are Holding Back Our Talks with Iran by Usha Sahay and Laicie Heeley There is a consensus in Washington that more sanctions will help convince Iran to halt its nuclear development. On June 3, President Obama issued an executive order… Continue Reading

Hagel Update: Crocker Endorses Hagel, Flournoy Signed PNAC Letter

With Sen. Chuck Hagel’s possible nomination still up in the air, several developments over the last couple of days should be noted, including this unqualified endorsement of Hagel in the Wall Street Journal, of all venues, by Ryan Crocker (ret.), the former… Continue Reading