In The News

Financial Times: Trump’s Deal and Palestinian Rights

Kofi Annan July 31, 2018
US presidents repeatedly try and fail to secure peace in the Middle East, and the United States remains “arguably the one country with decisive influence on both the Israelis and Palestinians,” writes Kofi Annan, former secretary-general for the United Nations. He reiterates a comment made by the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley that peace and security require attention to human rights, that...

Al Jazeera: Russia's Endgame in Syria

Marwan Kabalan July 31, 2018
Analysts can only conjecture what is in store for Syria, Ukraine and other parts of the world where Russia and the United States have an interest. The US and Russian presidents held a private summit and only the translators know what was really said. Syria was discussed. Both countries battled the Islamic State extremists, with Russia and Iran backing the Bashar al Assad regime and the United...

Times of India: Wooing by Weapons

Nayan Chanda July 30, 2018
The United States has approved the sale of unmanned combat drones known as Sea Guardians to India. Sales of these drones were once limited to NATO allies. “India has increasingly looked at drones to protect its borders and vast coast line,” explains Nayan Chanda, founding editor of YaleGlobal, in his column for the Times of India. “The threat from the sea has grown since with the increased...

The Guardian: UN Calls for Access to Stranded Syrians

Kareem Shaheen July 25, 2018
The United Nations has requested access to nearly 250,000 stranded Syrians who fled rebel-controlled sectors of Deraa in the midst of an incursion by Syrian military forces. As Kareem Shaheen reports for the Guardian, “government forces are expected to turn to Idlib in the north, where Islamist militias and al-Qaida-linked militants control territory hosting more than two million internally...

Telegraph: Montenegro and US Blow to Key NATO Principle

July 19, 2018
With his series of meetings in Europe, Donald Trump was a diplomatic bulldozer. His attempts to defend disparaging comments about close allies and NATO, after displaying bizarre deference with Russia’s president during a press conference, fuel alarm about Trump’s understanding of the alliance. During a post-summit interview, Trump criticized Montenegro and appeared to agree with a question that...

Jurist: The US Abandons Legal Obligations in Syria

Louis René Beres July 18, 2018
Donald Trump undermined numerous US commitments, institutions, policies and values in his summit with Vladimir Putin. The rest of the world has long depended on the United States to uphold human rights, justice and other values. Syrians – under attack by extremists and Russian intervention – are vulnerable. Millions of Syrians have been displaced and thousands killed, some with chemical weapons....

New York Times: Humiliation in Helsinki

Mark Landler July 17, 2018
Donald Trump, who boasts about his strength and tough negotiating skills, groveled before Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit in Helsinki. The meeting prompted consternation at home and abroad as well as questions about the president's patriotism and common sense. “Rather than defend the United States against those who would threaten it, he attacked his own citizens and...