In a hearing today in front of the Armed Services Committee, US military’s Central Command David Petraeus stated he believes Mr. Netanyahu is serious about Iranian threats against Israel and is prepared to act. … “the Israeli government may ultimately see itself so threatened by the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon that it would [...]
Tag Archives | Iran
Prime Minister Netanyahu
A tale of headlines and backdrops. The Atlantic: Netanyahu to Obama: Stop Iran—Or I Will. Even the Weekly Standard‘s Michael Goldfarb judges that Mr. Netanyahu “hypes the threat” in the interview while concluding: If Netanyahu thinks a nuclear-armed Iran is really that bad, then he must do everything in his power to prevent the country [...]
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Secretary Clinton on Iran, Russia, and Afghanistan
Andrea Mitchell had a hell of a show today, talking to Secretary Clinton on Iran, but also Russia. One aspect of the Iran issue was the human side that could be a point of interaction where we begin to have some dialogue with the Iranians outside the geopolitics of it all, something Clinton stressed. “… [...]
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Clinton’s Candor Continues
If anything reveals Secretary Clinton’s confidence, it’s her comfort in being candid on her trips abroad. This current journey is as important as it is serious for President Obama’s foreign policy, due to the recent deep commitment he’s made towards the Af-Pak region. But also because it’s not going to be easy to get others [...]
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Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy
There are innumerable opinions and analysis available on President Obama’s strategy going forward in Afghanistan. This is another; one that takes into account realities no one else is talking about. For one, that Vice President Joe Biden’s influence and expertise greatly influenced President Obama to take a more modest approach, for which everyone should be [...]
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A Word About the Blog
Now that I’m finally settled in D.C., I’d like to talk about what’s going on around here, which actually started after the primaries last year. Big changes, good changes, with more to come. There has been a change in the community, too, and that’s not over either. First, I made a risky decision to focus [...]
On the Foreign Policy Front
Today I’ll be at an event hosted by the New America Foundation and Steve Clemons, “The Autonomy Rule.” As usual, I’ll Twitter if I’ve got connection. Al Kamen is reporting that Rep. Ellen Tauscher may be tapped for a big time job at State (Robert Einhorn declined the job): Word is that Rep. Ellen Tauscher [...]
Busy China
James Fallows presents one view of China in the Atlantic that ties into what’s going on right now. Idle factories, moored container ships, widespread bankruptcies, massive migration back to the hinterlands, strangely clean air—the signs of depression are everywhere in China. Because it makes so many of the goods the world isn’t buying now, China [...]
U.S. Military Confirms Iranian Drone Downed
First reported by Danger Room, the story has been confirmed. Multi-national Forces – Iraq spokesman Col. Scott Maw tells Danger Room that coalition fighters intercepted an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle over Iraqi airspace on Feb. 25. The UAV, an Ababil-3 (pictured here), was “tracked as it crossed the border.” Coalition aircraft were sent up to [...]
In the News
A.I.G. is big, but this is bigger: Government spending on most domestic programs is growing at its fastest pace in nearly 30 years, and a lot of worried Democrats are seeking ways to rewrite and reduce the size of President Barack Obama’s budget proposals. [...] The Senate is likely to consider the budget the same [...]
Engaging the Muslim World
Nice title for Juan Cole’s new book. It’s something we’ve done a horrible job doing since 9/11. But the timeliness takes on new importance when looking through the prism of the Freeman withdrawal for NIC. Cole’s assessment on President Obama is stark, the review devastating: Israeli Apartheid will continue unabated under Obama. – Juan Cole [...]
DNI Blair: Iran Undecided on Nuclear Weapons
The disagreements inside the Obama administration on Iran’s building nuclear capabilities were on display recently when Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen said yes, but Secretary Gates said no. Dennis Blair joins in on the side of Gates, with Israel coming to a different assessment, foreshadowing a possible foreign policy fork in the road: Director [...]
Obama Denies Times Report on Missile Deal with Russia
During President Obama’s impromptu, sort of press conference with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, he came right out to say that The New York Times article on his letter to Russia “didn’t accurately characterize” what was sent to President Medvedev. President Obama sent a secret letter to Russia’s president last month suggesting that he would back [...]
On Middle East ‘Equilibrium’
–updated– The timing of yesterday’s event moderated by Steve Clemons was perfect, coinciding with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first visit to the Middle East as Secretary of State. The topic: What’s next for peace in the Middle East? Guests included Farah Stockman of The Boston Globe, Amjad Atallah of the New America Foundation, M.J. [...]
Foreign Affairs: What’s Next for the Peace Process?
I’ll be attending a forum on the Middle East peace process this afternoon moderated by Steve Clemons. You can follow on Twitter. Now let’s just hope I don’t get stuck in the snow.
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