With President Obama’s nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, U.S.-Iranian relations have been thrust back into the news cycle. This is a good thing. The debates surrounding Obama’s cabinet nominations offer a welcome opportunity for the public—and the administration—to review the failing U.S. policy toward Iran.
For those invested in the fate of the Green Climate Fund, the results of the 2012 Doha climate summit were mixed at best.
The extent and depth of Western sanctions on Iran reveal that they are geared toward inflicting economic hardships on ordinary Iranians in the hope of inciting public discontent and possible revolts. But whether these crippling sanctions will meet their ostensible political goal of changing Iran’s nuclear posture is a different story.
Syrian President Assad is also losing the public relations war.
Conversation on the streets of Beirut since the bombing in October has a familiar vocabulary, one reminiscent of 2005 when Rafic Hariri was assassinated.
It will likely use a combination of hard and soft power utilizing diplomacy, coalition building, political pressure, and military power.
Running along the beachside route toward Kubagan, Yemen, there is a small flexible tube. It’s a garden hose running all the way from the next town, and it’s the only source of clean water the village has.
Why don’t episodes like Newtown occur in another armed society, Israel?
A Lebanese Alawite family sits in their living room by a Christmas tree. The Alawite sect is a branch of Shi’a Islam found mostly in Syria. When asked about their Christmas tree, they replied “We obviously don’t believe in the same Christmas story, but its a fun holiday. Nice for the kids.”
Egypt’s President Morsi made Time’s short list for the person of the year, but his inability to steer Egypt to safety after his election cost him the accolade.