Iran to the Iraqis: Do Not Attack US forces Unless They Refuse to Withdraw Following a Parliamentary Decision

Iran to the Iraqis: Do Not Attack US forces Unless They Refuse to Withdraw Following a Parliamentary Decision

US president Donald Trump’s statement of his intention to remain in Iraq in order to “be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem” has created a political storm in Mesopotamia among local politicians and groups now determined to put an end to the US presence in the country. Many are…

Syria Sitrep – Trump Says U.S. Will Leave But Pentagon Keeps Adding Forces

Syria Sitrep – Trump Says U.S. Will Leave But Pentagon Keeps Adding Forces

The U.S. retreat from northeast Syria is still not happening. In yesterdays interview with CBS President Trump again said the troops would leave, but the the Pentagon is doing the opposite of retreating. The Islamic State forces north of the Euphrates are left to holding some 4 square kilometer of ground near the border to…

One Step Closer to Nuclear Oblivion: US Sabotages the INF Treaty

One Step Closer to Nuclear Oblivion: US Sabotages the INF Treaty

The Trump administration announced on February 1 that the country was suspending its participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF treaty) for 180 days pending a final withdrawal. Vladimir Putin, in a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, announced on Saturday that the Russian Federation is also suspending its participation…

Vision 2030: Towards a New Saudi Arabia Or No Saudi Arabia?

Vision 2030: Towards a New Saudi Arabia Or No Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia clinched 37 deals worth $53 billion after announcing that it intends to attract upwards of $426 billion in total over the next decade as it seeks to advance Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s (MbS) ambitious Vision 2030 agenda of socio-economic reform. The young leader knows that his majority-youthful country has no hope for…

The US Syria Withdrawal and the Myth of the Islamic State’s “Return”

The US Syria Withdrawal and the Myth of the Islamic State’s “Return”

At face value – the notion that the US occupation of Syria is key to preventing the return of the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIS) to Syrian territory is unconvincing.  Regions west of the Euphrates River where ISIS had previously thrived have since been permanently taken back by the Syrian Arab Army and its Russian and…