Saudi Arabia and Iran: When It Comes to Exiles, the Pot Calls the Kettle Black

Saudi Arabia and Iran: When It Comes to Exiles, the Pot Calls the Kettle Black

If Saudi Arabia is under pressure to give chapter and verse on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul, Iran risks straining relations with Europe at a time that it needs European support the most by targeting ethnic rights activists. Mr. Khashoggi’s murder has focused attention on Saudi harassment and intimidation…

The New U.S. Strategy in Syria Is Bound to Fail. Trump Wants “Regime Change” and the Withdrawal of Iranian Forces

The New U.S. Strategy in Syria Is Bound to Fail. Trump Wants “Regime Change” and the Withdrawal of Iranian Forces

he leading analysts repeatedly stated that the U.S. has failed to overthrow President Bashar Assad. Recently, The National Interest reporter and researcher, Doug Bandow, has made sure of it during his trip to Damascus. He claims “at long last, the conflict is winding down. Assad has won, and Washington has lost, and America’s approach has been a disastrous failure.’ …

The Asian Parliamentary Assembly Meeting in Gwadar was Good News for CPEC

The Asian Parliamentary Assembly Meeting in Gwadar was Good News for CPEC

It was a very prudent move for Pakistan to have Gwadar host this year’s Asian Parliamentary Assembly instead of any other of the country’s cities because Islamabad showed off the progress that’s been made thus far on CPEC, encouraged its fellow institutional members to feel like they have a stake in its future success, and…

Summit in Istanbul as Ramifications of the Khashoggi Debacle Roll On

Summit in Istanbul as Ramifications of the Khashoggi Debacle Roll On

The Russia-Turkey-Germany-France summit in Istanbul on October 27 is an extraordinary affair. The Kremlin has been deploying a wily strategy, downplaying the summit as just “comparing notes”, and not a breakthrough. Yet Istanbul is a de facto breakthrough in itself – on superimposed layers. It signals the top two EU powers acquiescing that Russia is in…

The US Is Linking Hezbollah with the Cartels to Advance the Anti-Iranian Infowar

The US Is Linking Hezbollah with the Cartels to Advance the Anti-Iranian Infowar

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions created an elite task force for specifically investigating Mexican drug cartel and Hezbollah activity in America. His move comes just weeks before the upcoming midterms in early November and represents Trump following through on his campaign promise to investigate these groups, with the differentiating factor being that the US also…

The White Helmets Ride Again

The White Helmets Ride Again

I am often asked to explain why countries like Iran appear to be so aggressive, involving themselves in foreign wars and seeking to create alliances that they know will provoke the worst and most paranoid responses from some of their neighbors. My response is invariably that perceptions of threat depend very much on which side…