Could Beijing Have Taken a Different Path? On a visit to China in the summer of 1988, I encountered a widespread sense of drift and despair. The official inflation rate at 18.5 percent, and the actual rate was probably higher. State statistics said that 21 percent of urban workers had …
Read More »Putin’s Next Move in Ukraine
Mobilize, Retreat, or Something in Between? For the first time in the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin must contend with the serious prospect of losing it. Early setbacks around Kyiv and Chernigov had been balanced by Russian gains in the south and the east; they could be justified …
Read More »Renewing U.S. Security Policy in the Middle East
This report offers a new framing of U.S. national security interests in the Middle East in light of changed political, security, and economic contexts. The authors argue for a new approach to managing U.S. security interests in the region that avoids the pattern of recurring reactive military engagements that have …
Read More »The Russia – Ukraine crisis: the Global South perspective
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seriously affected Europe. In August 2022, annual inflation in the EU exceeded 10%[1]. Political leaders are looking for solutions to the looming energy crisis[2]. However, the consequences of events in Ukraine affect other parts of the world too. African countries depend heavily on …
Read More »‘Leading from Behind’: Is Washington at War with Moscow?
Though Washington insists that it is not interested in a direct military conflict with Moscow, the latter claims that the US is, in fact, directly involved. But who is telling the truth? On September 8, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appeared in Kyiv on an unannounced visit. He carried …
Read More »US-NATO escalation in Ukraine risks nuclear war
A staggering recklessness has overtaken the American ruling class. It is treating the prospect of nuclear war, which would mean the deaths of millions and the potential annihilation of life on the planet, as a real possibility that must not be allowed to deter its geopolitical objectives in waging war …
Read More »US Military Base in Northeast Syria Comes Under Attack
US troops on a base in northeast Syria came under attack. The rocket attack on Sunday failed to strike US or coalition forces or equipment, according to the US Central Command. Three 107mm rockets targeted the Green Village base, CENTCOM said in a statement. A fourth rocket along with rocket …
Read More »Time to Get Tough on the Taliban
Pressure, Not Engagement, Is the Best Way to Help Afghans One year after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, it is clear that the extremist group has changed little since it first seized control of the country in 1996. In March 2022, the Taliban decided not to reopen girls’ …
Read More »Iran cracks down on protesters after death of woman arrested over hijab
Mahsa Amini’s death ignited a wave of protests against the government. Iranian security forces opened fire on Saturday on a crowd of protesters mourning the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the “guidance patrol,” a police unit in charge of enforcing mandatory hijab rules. According to Hengaw, …
Read More »Are Iranian products banned into Syrian opposition-held areas?
The Syrian Islamic Council close to the Syrian opposition issued a fatwa prohibiting the entry of Iranian goods into opposition areas, claiming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is allowing the spread of the goods in its areas in northwest Syria. The Syrian Islamic Council issued Aug. 30 a fatwa on trading in …
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