February 2018 | Astute News

East Ghouta: the Last Great Battle of the Syrian War?

February 28, 2018

Reading media reports of the fighting in east Ghouta over the last few days has triggered an eery sense of déjà vu. It is like taking a time machine back to the autumn of 2016 and listening to all the…

Trapped in Eastern Ghouta: How Both Sides Stop People from Escaping

February 28, 2018

Opinion

Syrian rebels and government forces are both preventing civilians fleeing the bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, according to a teacher who has been trying to get his family out. In an exclusive interview…

Admiral Harry Harris to Become US Ambassador to Australia

February 28, 2018

Opinion

One of the signs of the worsening situation in the Indian and Pacific ocean region, where the focus of world politics is shifting, is the strengthening of the military’s voice in the cacophony of the …

The Changing Role and Position of Turkish Armed Forces in Turkish Foreign Policy

February 28, 2018

Opinion

The Turkish Armed Forces have been discussed substantially during the last few years in the context of Turkish Foreign Policy due to new developments in the military; such as building a military base …

Bull in a China Shop: US Announces More Unilateral Sanctions on North Korea

February 28, 2018

Opinion

On Feb.23, the US Treasury Department announced the introduction of sanctions on 56 shipping vessels and entities accused of illicit trading with North Korea. The pressure intensification pursues the …

Dr. Strangelove in the Pentagon

February 28, 2018

Opinion

If you’re having trouble sleeping thanks to, well, you know who... you’re not alone. But don’t despair. A breakthrough remedy has just gone on the market. It has no chemically induced side effects and…

Blundering Into Iran

February 28, 2018

Opinion

The deluge of recent reporting regarding possible conflict with nuclear armed North Korea has somewhat obscured consideration of the much higher probability that Israel or even Saudi Arabia will take …

The Privatization of U.S. Foreign Policy

February 28, 2018

Opinion

The unethical blurring of private interests and public business is a hallmark of Donald Trump’s presidency. That blurring has increasingly involved U.S. foreign policy. The possible effects on U.S. fo…