Israel Not Pushing Obama to Arm Syrian Rebels

by Barbara Slavin via IPS News A lack of Israeli pressure for the U.S. to intervene and Israel’s ability to go after sensitive targets in Syria on its own are factors in the Barack Obama administration’s reluctance to get more… Continue Reading

Obama, Kerry and the Mid-East: A Blueprint for Re-engagement

by Emile Nakhleh As President Obama begins his second term and John Kerry becomes the new Secretary of State, they are faced with worrisome uncertainty in Egypt, civil war in Syria, repression in Bahrain, a moribund peace process, and a… Continue Reading

WaPo on Iran in Syria: The Lens Reflects a Mirror

by Farideh Farhi This Washington Post article about Iran and Hezbollah building networks in Syria in the event of Bashar al-Assad’s fall is certainly eye-catching. It’s also suggestive of Iranian shrewdness in trying to make the best out of every… Continue Reading

Syria: The Vexing Issue of Lethal Aid for the Rebels

by Wayne White Sen. John McCain’s berating of former Sen. Chuck Hagel for “yes or no” answers as to whether the latter would support intervention in Syria or providing arms to anti-regime fighters reveals just how little McCain understands about… Continue Reading

Iran Shoots Itself in the Foot

By Robin Yassin-Kassab In August 2012 Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi attended a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran. His presence at the conference was something of a diplomatic victory for the Iranian leadership, whose relations with Egypt, the pivotal Arab… Continue Reading