By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Events in the Middle East have moved so quickly that one almost needs a daily scorecard to keep up. This article will try to give a basic picture of what has, and hasn’t, changed. Have Iran and revolutionary Islamists gained in recent months? Yes, since Islamism is advancing at the […]
U.S. loses ground to Iran in Middle East Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Everything has been so predictable. Designated “moderate” and U.S.-backed Egyptian leader Muhammad ElBaradei has made a profoundly shocking statement that should change U.S. policy overnight, show how disastrous Obama Administration policy was, and mark the beginning of the coming electoral defeat for the president. But presumably nothing will change. ElBaradei,
Obama-backed Egyptian candidate threatens war on Israel Read More »
Middle East, USALawrence puts his hand in the flame of a match after lighting a cigarette. POTTER: Ow! It damn well hurts. LAWRENCE: Certainly, it hurts! POTTER: Well, what’s the trick then? LAWRENCE: The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts. –“Lawrence of Arabia,” the film. By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –Engaging in Middle East
How The Bizarre World of Middle East Studies Messes Up U.S. Foreign Policy Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –As of today, one can say that the revolution in Syria must be taken seriously. Not only were the demonstrations large but also they had spread to additional parts of the country and involved different religious and ethnic communities. Of course, there is a big difference between Egypt and Syria.
Syrian Revolution Takes Off. Where is American Support? Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Now that the New York Times tells us that the Muslim Brotherhood is really strong, organized, widely supported by the army, and capable of taking over Egypt–all the things I wrote at the time and the mass media denied–the Washington Post confirms every point I made during the revolution
U.S. media catching up on Egypt’s drift toward Islamism Read More »
Middle East, USA
By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –American core principles as articulated by President Obama are indeed a prescription for intervention everywhere – despite his firm denial. “America cannot use our military wherever repression occurs…. we must always measure our interests against the need for action.” But, he said, “We had a unique ability to stop that
Obama Doctrine: a prescription for intervention everywhere Read More »
Shoshana Bryen, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — At the moment in history when people are not just rebelling in the Middle East but when the opposition movements in Iran and Syria are at a high point, the fact that the U.S. government is standing by and not only doing nothing but virtually saying nothing. No, it
U.S. should denounce Syria’s Asad Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C — What is the American national interest in military intervention in Libya? What is our military objective and how do we plan to achieve it? If it wasn’t clear before yesterday, it was no clearer after the President spoke. After denouncing the Iraq war “bluntly,” as he said, President Obama
Obama’s reasons for Libyan action sound like Bush’s for Iraq Read More »
USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel–As I’ve reported, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is horrified by White House policies in the Middle East. Indeed, he has an extra reason for being upset since it is his military forces that have to manage the Libyan mess while simultaneously fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while, on top
U.S. miscalculations make another Israel-Gaza war inevitable Read More »
Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –The headline on the Associated Press story caught my eye immediately: “Thousands of Palestinians rally for reconciliation.” I always look for stories that contradict my assumptions so that I can examine or change them if necessary. According to the headline, this might be an important new–and positive–development. So, did thousands
Palestinians rallying for ‘reconciliation’ mean with Hamas Read More »
Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — So constant are the lies told in mass media coverage of Israel-Palestinian issues that it is hardly worthwhile to critique individual articles any more. Following the horrendous murder of the Fogel family, a number of Internet—but not print—writers have pointed out that various mass media institutions have either not
Western media’s bias shows in coverage of Fogel family murders Read More »
International, Middle East, USABy Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel00For a comprehensive statement of current U.S. Middle East policy you can’t do better than the testimony of Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on March 17, 2011. It’s horrifying. Here’s my summary of the key point: The United States will
U.S. Middle East policy undermines friends, strengthens enemies Read More »
Barry Shaw, Middle East, USABy Miriam Maya and Doug White LAS VEGAS, Nevada–San Diego’s delegation of 49 young adults at the first annual TribeFest, hosted by The Jewish Federations of North America, was like no other. Our first indication of such was how we chose to identify ourselves. Imagine a large banquet hall in a cavernous hotel convention center with
TribeFest helped to build future San Diego Jewish community Read More »
USA