The Danger of Rogue Israeli Military Action against Iran

by Wayne White The New York Times reported on August 21 that, according to leaks by Ehud Barak’s biographers, the former Israeli defense minister and his boss, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, were ready to attack Iran’s nuclear infrastructure in 2010,… Continue Reading

Islamic State: Washington and Baghdad “Don’t Get It”

by Wayne White Since Baghdad’s recapture of the central Iraqi city of Tikrit, the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) has hit back hard. IS broke into Iraq’s encircled Baiji refinery earlier this month and lately has seized Ramadi. As we… Continue Reading

US-GCC Summit: Agenda Overload, Leaders at Odds

by Wayne White Statements after the current summit between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will likely be upbeat. But they will obscure the difficult-to-resolve tensions during the May 13-14 talks. Iranian nuclear diplomacy will be central.… Continue Reading

Iraq: Obama Takes the Low Road to Beating Back IS

by Wayne White President Obama, under pressure to hasten the recovery of Iraqi territory held by the Islamic State (ISIS or IS), has opted to allow the participation of Iranian-backed, anti-Sunni Arab Shi’a militias. He stipulated that they must answer… Continue Reading

Tikrit Battle Revives Doubts About Iraqi Leaders

by Wayne White A desperate Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week requested US air support to jumpstart Iraq’s stalled offensive in Tikrit. Many observers describe this as an American triumph. Yet, Abadi’s initial choice to ignore Washington’s concerns and… Continue Reading