By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Next week, President Obama will make his first visit to Israel as president. The bonds that exist between Jerusalem and Washington are built upon mutual strategic interests and a solid foundation of shared cultural and political values. At the same time, both countries face common threats where cooperation and [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, the Israeli Air Force reportedly attacked two different targets in Syria. One is said to have been a convoy ferrying advanced anti-aircraft missiles to the Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah, the other, a large compound reported to contain training camps and research facilities housing Russian technicians as well [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — Even during difficult economic times, most Americans still want our nation to maintain a credible national defense, support the welfare of its troops, and assume a leadership role for America in an increasingly chaotic world including by continuing close cooperation with democratic allies. That is why the President’s [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — In his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded the world that all attempts to persuade Iran to halt its progress toward developing a nuclear weapon have failed. He urged the world to impose a strict red line on Iran. “At this [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. –As the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 passes, the Administration considers al Qaeda all but defeated, and eagerly anticipates a downsized U.S. military and its reorientation to Asia and the Pacific. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain’s famous quip, reports of al Qaeda’s death are greatly exaggerated. Despite President Obama’s assertion, made [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — With his most recent comments in London last week, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, put a greater distance between the United States and Israel over a potential attack against Iran. “I don’t want to be complicit if they [Israel] choose to do it,” [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration’s intention to shift military resources to the Pacific satisfies American objectives, including enhancing stability and bilateral relations, and, perhaps most importantly, expanding economic opportunities. Broadening the scope of this shift, or “pivot,” as it is often called, to encompass the Arctic region furthers U.S. interests and [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C — When it comes to compelling Tehran to end its nuclear weapons program, sanctions – as employed by the U.S. government and our European partners – amount to little more than a time-consuming exercise with scant possibility of success. Moreover, the latest round of negotiations, which went nowhere, is just [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C — American Exceptionalism began when 56 brave patriots signed the Declaration of Independence, and has continued with the many thousands of Americans who paid the ultimate price to preserve the freedoms that make ours the greatest nation in the world. On Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who have [...]
By James Colbert WASHINGTON, D.C. –Providing the Egyptian military with unrestricted military assistance no longer serves American goals. While conditional aid is a relatively weak diplomatic tool, it is the only approach left to the United States to alter meaningfully Egypt’s negative trajectory that is propelled by an economy nearing collapse, ongoing human rights abuses, [...]