America

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in US raid in Syria

2019-10-28

Military commander in Idlib and others living nearby describe eight helicopters swooping in at low altitude, multiple explosions and three-hour battle

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How a Weaponized Dollar Could Backfire

2019-10-27

United States foreign policy under President Donald Trump continues to run counter to Americas traditional post-war objectives. Should the US carelessly relinquish leadership of the global multilateral order...

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American Military’s Shifting Doctrine

2019-10-27

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, US military thought has focused on small scale conflicts, not the major wars. As a result, the US military evolved away from a major land army

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Locking China Out of the Dollar System

2019-10-23

By broadening the nexus between economic interest and national security, Trump is encouraging the decoupling of the worlds two largest economies and the emergence of a bipolar world order led by rival hegemons.

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The Geopolitical Stakes in Iraq

2019-10-22

Russia has steadily inserted itself into Iraqs military, energy, and educational sectors, and these relationships could turn Baghdad further away from the United States now that the Trump administration has ceded Syria to Moscow.

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Syria: Winners and Losers

2019-10-22

In the week since Turkey launched its forces invading Syria in order to establish a buffer or (safe zone), a lot has happened...

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ISIS Is Gloating

2019-10-15

The best one could say about Americas abandonment of the Kurds is that they should have known we would sell them out eventually.

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America’s Love – Hate Relationship with Turkey

2019-10-13

Americas On-Off relationship with Turkey once again took a 180 degree turn as President Trump moved several dozen US Special Forces from the Turkish

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The Global Retreat of Free Trade

2019-09-30

At last months G7 summit in Biarritz, leaders again paid lip service to reforming the World Trade Organization. But, given the US led effort to weaken the WTO

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Across a divided nation, skepticism about impeachment

2019-09-28

Protesters call to impeach President Trump in front of the White House on Sept. 24

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How close does the Ukraine scandal bring Donald Trump to impeachment?

2019-09-24

Democrats are torn: the president may have abused his office, but be unimpeachable

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Turkey on a Tightrope

2019-09-22

Ankara is dealing with the United States and Russia, but what is defining this treacherous triangle?

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Operating in the ‘Gray Zone’ to Counter Iran

2019-09-22

The best way to counter Irans asymmetric strategy in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere is a U.S. gray zone strategy

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The Real Reason Trump Won’t Attack Iran

2019-09-19

Starting a war to protect oil markets will only backfire.

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Trump Team Debates Response to Strikes on Saudi Oil

2019-09-18

Pentagon is cautious as Riyadh requests additional U.S. forces.

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Bolton Out at National Security Council

2019-09-16

On Tuesday, National Security Advisor John Bolton was fired by President Trump or he resigned, depending on who one believes.

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How Likely Is It That the United States Will Begin Backchannel Talks With the Houthis?

2019-09-06

A regular survey of experts on matters relating to Middle Eastern and North African politics and security.

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Two Systems, One World

2019-09-05

Like the twentieth-century Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the new rivalry between China and the West is a contest between fundamentally incompatible political systems.

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Is Iran Negotiating Its Way to Negotiations?

2019-09-05

While Tehrans internal debate about engagement with Washington intensifies, its words and actions already seem to be shaping even unintentionally the terms of any future talks.

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Is Stakeholder Capitalism Really Back?

2019-09-01

We will have to wait and see whether the US Business Roundtables recent statement renouncing corporate governance based on shareholder primacy is merely a publicity stunt.

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Democracies in Danger

2019-08-19

Recent unilateral decisions by the Indian, American, and British governments are part of a worrying trend in the worlds leading democracies.

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America’s Superpower Panic

2019-08-15

History suggests that a global superpower in relative decline should aim for a soft landing, so that it still has a comfortable place in the world once its dominance fades. By contrast, US President Donald Trumps incoherent, confrontational approach towar

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Speaking Truth to Power

2019-08-09

Many partisans accused President George W. Bush of lying and pressuring the intelligence community to produce intelligence to justify a war that Bush had already chosen

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Bahrain’s Perception Problem

2019-08-05

New demonstrations, executions, and diplomatic quarrels threaten to undermine the island’s efforts to improve its pro-Western profile amid the Iran crisis.

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