In the last week, senior Israeli policymakers made statements of an uncharacteristically bellicose nature regarding Syria. It is unlikely that these statements were made because of sudden random irritation toward Israel's hostile northeastern neighbor. Rather, the statements probably constituted part of a message of deterrence to Damascus. The need to project deterrence itself derives from a series of significant changes currently under way on the ground in Lebanon - reflecting Syria's … [Read more...]
Obama’s State of the Union Message Tells Us Far More About the State of Obama
By January 28, 2010
Significantly, President Barack Obama's discussion of foreign policy came only at the end of his State of the Union message. Obviously, domestic matters and especially the economy come first. Yet international affairs are not only vital but often have been the issues on which administrations are judged, no matter how unlikely that seemed at the time.It is apparently considered impolite to point out that Obama has no previous experience and little knowledge of international affairs. And yet that … [Read more...]
Islam and Islamism: Are Extremists Hijackers, “Proper Muslims,” or Contenders in a Civil War?
By January 26, 2010
One of the most controversial issues today is the relationship of the political doctrine of Islamism (including revolutionary activity and terrorism) and the religion of Islam.Given the desire of too many people to distort this discussion with slogans, insults, and name-calling, it is a very dangerous one. Yet the importance of the issue requires it be analyzed.Let’s begin by defining three positions. The dominant, establishment view in the West is that Islam is a religion of peace and has … [Read more...]
The Obama Administration Learns the Basic Lesson on the Israel-Palestinian Issue
By January 25, 2010
In contrast to its refusal to change course on Iran, the Obama administration has learned something about Israel-Palestinian peacemaking, conclusions clearly expressed in the government’s new talking points.First, President Barack Obama stated recently that his administration had overestimated its ability to get the two sides into meaningful peace talks. Blaming both parties equally, Obama said the problem is that neither Israel nor the Palestinians were ready to take the bold steps … [Read more...]
The Point of No Return: Clearly the Obama Administration Won’t Ever Do Anything Serious Against Iran’s Nuclear Program
By January 24, 2010
We must now face an extremely unpleasant truth: Even giving the Obama administration every possible break regarding its Iran policy, it is now clear that the U.S. government isn't going to take strong action on the nuclear weapons issue. Note that I didn't even say "effective" action, that is, measures that would force Iran to back down. I'm neither advocating nor do I think there was ever any possibility that the United States, even under Obama's predecessor, might take military action.I'm … [Read more...]
Analysis: Did the Long Arm of Iran Reach the Dead Sea Highway?
By January 21, 2010
The revelations of possible Iranian involvement in the attack on Israeli diplomats earlier this month in Jordan appear to offer the latest evidence of direct engagement by Teheran in subversion and paramilitary activity across national borders. The Jordanian investigation is still in its early stages. But the suggestion by sources close to the well-respected Jordanian General Intelligence Department that the explosives used for the attack may have been brought into the kingdom by Iranian … [Read more...]
Muslim Brotherhood Cleric versus Palestinian “President”: A Case Study of Islamism versus Nationalism
By January 21, 2010
Forget about the moderate mythology fed the Western public by its media. Forget the comforting nonsense about reasonable masses held back from being humanitarian democrats only by manipulative dictatorships. Here's a glimpse of what the region is really like. Yusuf al-Qaradawi is one of the world's most prestigious Muslim clerics and certainly the most internationally popular Islamist cleric. Some in the West like to think of him as some kind of pragmatic, modernizing moderate. As … [Read more...]
The Decline of the Obama Administration: Massachusetts and the Middle East
By January 20, 2010
There is an iron rule in modern democratic politics that parties periodically ignore to their peril: if a party goes too far to an extreme--to the left, the right, or any other far-out viewpoint--the voters reject it. This is what's now happening in the United States. One wonders whether, or when, it will happen in a number of European countries. In the United States, the most obvious examples is when the Democrats went too far to the left with George McGovern and the Republicans went too far … [Read more...]
Muslim Brotherhood’s New Leader Shows There’s No Hope of Moderation
By January 20, 2010
Muhammad Badie, a 66-year-old professor of veterinary medicine is the new head of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Indeed, barring any serious ill health he will probably run the Islamist group for the next ten to twenty years, foreclosing the possibility of any real moderation from that group. Yet since Badie doesn't want to make any changes in the Brotherhood, he is likely not to make it any more revolutionary either. Clearly, the Brotherhood fears confrontation with the Egyptian government … [Read more...]
The Resistance Strategy: The Middle East’s Response to Calls for Peace and Moderation
By January 19, 2010
Have you heard from any of the Western mass media about the Resistance strategy of Middle East radicals? I'm sure you haven't. Yet without understanding this powerful and widely accepted worldview how could anyone possibly comprehend events in the region? "Resistance" is the slogan used by Syria, Hamas, and Hizballah especially but also is used by Iran's regime, other Lebanese supporters of the Iran-Syria bloc, and assorted radicals throughout the region. While the word has echoes for any … [Read more...]
