Pakistan’s Troubles with Religious Parties Could be Solved Using An Iranian Solution

Pakistan’s Troubles with Religious Parties Could be Solved Using An Iranian Solution

For several weeks, the streets of Islamabad, Karachi and other Pakistani cities have been filled with protesters organised by the ultra-religious Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah party and other religious hard-line groups. The origins of the protests are opposition to a new legal clause removing the requirement for all lawmakers to accept the Prophet Muhammad as…

Saudi Prince Muhammad’s Achilles Heel: Misreading Tea Leaves in Washington

Saudi Prince Muhammad’s Achilles Heel: Misreading Tea Leaves in Washington

Emboldened by perceived White House support, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman appears to have stepped up his risky, so far faltering effort to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East. The kingdom, despite Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri complicating Saudi efforts to curb the political and military power of Hezbollah, the country’s Shia militia,…

Trump Wants Peace with Erdogan – The Miltary Wants to Sabotage It

Trump Wants Peace with Erdogan – The Miltary Wants to Sabotage It

President Trump is attempting to calm down the U.S. conflict with Turkey. The military junta in the White House has different plans. It now attempts to circumvent the decision the president communicated to his Turkish counterpart. The result will be more Turkish-U.S. acrimony. Yesterday the Turkish foreign minister surprisingly announced a phone call President Trump…

Libya Is a Failed State (and It’s America’s Fault)

Libya Is a Failed State (and It’s America’s Fault)

When the Obama administration led a 2011 NATO military intervention on behalf of rebels seeking to overthrow Libyan dictator Muammar el-Qaddafi, there was considerable optimism that the move would produce a much better country. Although U.S. officials and their media cheerleaders acknowledged that significant challenges remained for a post-Qaddafi Libya, they argued that the outcome…