Advertisements Democratic leadership committed a political blunder by trying to sneak an additional $1 billion in funding for Israel (on top of the $3.8 they get annually already) into a bill to raise the debt ceiling. This was funding that was guaranteed to pass in the NDAA bill, so itContinue Reading
Advertisements One of the reasons that centrist Democrats were desperate to nominate Joe Biden and even more desperate to avoid nominating Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren this year was to secure the support of alienated Republicans. The Lincoln Project, the Never Trumpers and a good number of MSNBC hosts areContinue Reading
The current situation in the Persian Gulf is all too similar to Europe in 1914, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). In “Averting the Middle East’s 1914 Moment,” the ICG makes the case that the situation in the Persian Gulf has gotten so complicated and volatile that, as ICG’s Iran Project Director, Ali Vaez. put it, “Just as in Europe in 1914, a single incident has the potential of sparking a military confrontation that could, in turn, engulf the entire region.”Continue Reading
This agreement would surely raise the level of tension in the Persian Gulf. Iran would correctly see the United States as taking a big step toward setting up an Israeli attack on its territory. It would surely find a way to respond, and the Islamic Republic will still have a wide range of actions that would be impactful but would be well short of anything that could trigger the treaty.
It’s an idea certain to make a volatile situation even more explosive and dangerous. It will be important that more rational forces, particularly in the Senate, be prepared to take Graham on over this very perilous course of action.Continue Reading
Had Washington made an effort since the last time Trump promised to quit Syria to pursue diplomatic and military channels and prepare the ground for a U.S. departure, this might indeed be a day to celebrate. But that’s not Trump’s way. He acts on his whims, and if lives are destroyed by the hundreds or even thousands as a result, they don’t matter to him anyway. That’s what’s happening here. Continue Reading
