In The News

US Rout Is Iran's Condition to Talk to Washington

David Ignatius December 7, 2006

US Rout Is Iran's Condition to Talk to Washington

David Ignatius December 7, 2006
The Iraq Study Group Report, a unanimous and unflinching assessment of the war, offers 79 recommendations to the Bush administration for bringing the war to an end. Nations as diverse as Iran, Israel and the UK, which all have an interest in the conflict, do agree on one point: Few options exist for delivering stability to Iraq. So far, the US has refused to talk to Iraqi neighbors Syria or...

The Fears of a Regional War

Yakov Katz December 7, 2006
The Iraq Study Group Report, a unanimous and unflinching assessment of the war, offers 79 recommendations to the Bush administration for bringing the war to an end. Nations as diverse as Iran, Israel and the UK, which all have an interest in the conflict, do agree on one point: Few options exist for delivering stability to Iraq. So far, the US has refused to talk to Iraqi neighbors Syria or...

Iraq Panel Calls Conditions “Grave and Deteriorating”

William Branigin December 6, 2006
Iraq is in a “dire” state, and immediate diplomacy is essential for preventing the national conflict from expanding into a regional one, spreading chaos throughout the Middle East. The Iraq Study Group released a long-awaited report today with 79 recommendations and few surprises. The report, approved unanimously by the bipartisan committee, recommends a “diplomatic offensive” involving every...

Without International Support, Lebanon May Go Under

Nizar Abdel-Kader December 4, 2006
Dissatisfied with a secular government approved by the West, Hezbollah wants to control the government of Lebanon by having veto power over any decision – and calls such a process a “unity government.” Such demands, combined with thousands taking to the streets of Beirut in protest, sudden resignations of ministers and assassinations, can only lead to political instability and chaos. Some...

Iraqi Civil War Shrinks US Options

Trudy Rubin December 4, 2006
Any plan for an organized exit of US troops from Iraq depends on the government having some semblance of control over the streets and oil fields. With a sharp rise in sectarian violence, the US military trains Iraqi factions to fight one another in civil war – a tremendous waste of time and resources. Journalist Trudy Rubin notes that it’s amazing how long it took for civil war to break out...

New Winds Blowing Across the Mid-East

Gideon Samet November 29, 2006
Muslims who resort to violence often cite the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as a major source for their anger. Nations relying on traditional military force in the Middle East in recent years have only seen their power diminished rather than enhanced. Weariness about violence, conflict and instability may force the players to try diplomacy. Unfortunately, a long chain reaction of...