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 [...]
Tag Archives | Middle East
Chas Freeman Strikes Back on the Way Out
…and hits the Israel Lobby squarely between the eyes. Via Laura Rozen: [...] The libels on me and their easily traceable email trails show conclusively that there is a powerful lobby determined to prevent any view other than its own from being aired, still less to factor in American understanding of trends and events in [...]
Tibet and 9/11, a Twofer Against Freeman
–updated– The Washington Times gets at Chas Freeman today by way of the 50th anniversary of the Tibet uprising, which led to the Dali Lami fleeing into exile (he was 23 at the time). –Photo by REUTERS– However, like all who are on the warpath against Freeman, it doesn’t take them long to pivot to [...]
Swiftboating Chas Freeman, The Ongoing Saga
So far, there hasn’t been much out of the Obama administration, though Blair’s office did offer this response: Wendy Morigi, a spokeswoman for Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair — who picked Freeman — says “Director Blair selected Ambassador Freeman because he thought he would be the best person for the job. He is a [...]
Does New York Times Know Clinton is Secretary of State?
Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, the Times offers an article that is so insipidly stupid it’s no wonder their stock price has tanked. Sheryl Gay Stolberg writes a laughable piece that makes it hard to get past the first two paragraphs, because her premise for it defies common sense. Oh, but [...]
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.
Clinton to Middle East as Fatah-Hamas Turn to Unity Gov.
What timing, especially since, according to Marc Lynch today, Fatah and Hamas have agreed in principle on a unity government. Hear that Bibi? [...] The details of the proposed “National Accordance” government [al-tawafuq al-watani] remain vague, and everyone expects hard bargaining to come. The proposed reconciliation is to include rebuilding the PLO, holding new Parliamentary [...]
AIPAC Crowd Loses One
This is a good thing. Laura Rozen broke the story originally and explains the kerfuffle. Senator Feinstein, among others, have been given the word. Charles (Chas) Freeman, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has been selected as chairman of the National Intelligence Council. Politico has the unclassified memo. His previous Saudi Arabia gig, though not [...]
Turkey’s Endrogen Walks Out of Davos Panel
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGKFUatFG8M&eurl Resisting efforts by Mr. Ignatius to end the session, Mr. Erdogan continued, saying to Mr. Peres, “When it comes to killing, you know well how to kill.” – New York Times Even at Davos, moderating a panel on Gaza can be diplomatically dangerous. David Ignatius might just have caused an international incident between Israel [...]
‘Direct Diplomacy’ …and Obama on Al Arabiya
–updated– httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO_lLttxxrs Some welcome news: President Barack Obama’s administration will engage in “direct diplomacy” with Iran, the newly installed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Monday. Not since before the 1979 Iranian revolution are U.S. officials believed to have conducted wide-ranging direct diplomacy with Iranian officials. But U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice warned that Iran [...]
Wherein Juan Cole Loses the Thread
–updated– Oh, for criminy sakes! President Obama has been in office less than one week, but a notable Middle East scholar, someone very respected, is asking whether Obama delivering on his campaign rhetoric regarding Pakistan (see drone strike last week), well, could it signal “Obama’s Vietnam?” Talk about your wingnut New Years gift, presented on [...]
Why George Mitchell is Up Against It
According to Marc Lynch, Israel’s Gaza smackdown didn’t do the new president any good. Highlights are below, but Lynch’s explanation of each is important to read: 1. Wrecked Obama’s honeymoon period. [...] 2. Made peace talks less likely. [...] 3. Strengthened radical voices, but not necessarily al-Qaeda. [...] 4. Strengthened the hand of the dictators. [...]
THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS BACK
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN_2raLp55A httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmJ5pDQ-MdU httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GwdmEaCdT4 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1qT3B6qxGU httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IARVtDTxGDU In introducing her boss, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton once again continued to put down the doubters. “…We want to do our very best work in furtherance of your goals. … I pledge to you on behalf of the thousands of dedicated public servants who serve you on behalf of diplomacy [...]
MADAM SECRETARY
SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON Vote: 94 Yeas; 2 Nays (DeMint, Vitter) Applause breaks out in the Senate chamber. At last seems to be the theme of the day, with a nod to John McCain for strongly suggesting a unanimous consent, though Republicans ignored him, demanding a full roll call vote. In straining to send [...]
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