And How America Can Prepare for Whatever Comes Next Vladimir Putin happened to turn 71 last October 7, the day Hamas assaulted Israel. The Russian president took the rampage as a birthday present; it shifted the context around his aggression in Ukraine. Perhaps to show his appreciation, he had his …

Threaten Tehran, Pressure Netanyahu In the immediate aftermath of Tehran’s spectacular, but almost entirely thwarted, attack on Israel, it appeared that the Middle East had dodged a bullet. Iran’s barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles enables its leadership to claim vengeance for Israel’s April 1 assassination of seven …

Despite its devastating human and physical cost, Israel’s effort to destroy Hamas has a whack-a-mole aspect. Even though Israel asserts it has killed 12,000 of Hama’s estimated 40,000 fighters and wounded or captured thousands more, Hamas retains a presence in swaths of Gaza. It has been able to re-establish itself, …

Iraq, perhaps unsurprisingly, is a hotbed of gallows humor. But the tired old joke: “Iran and the West will keep fighting here until every Iraqi is dead,” is no funnier now than it was years ago. Hundreds of missiles and drones soared over the Middle East this weekend from Iran …

In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was often referred to as an “island of democracy” in Central Asia. The “island’s” shores have receded over the years, but relative to its neighbors, Kyrgyzstan remained the most democratic country. Three distinguishing features of Kyrgyzstan include an active political opposition, a vibrant civil society, …

On Saturday evening, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel in response to the Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria. Tehran validated its military action by invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, which underscores a right to ‘individual or collective self-defence’. Israel, along with help …

Ambassador Andreev’s interview was very insightful, especially after he shared the important point that Russophobia very rarely manifests itself openly in personal contacts. This contradicts the popular perceptions of RT’s mostly “Non-Russian Pro-Russian” audience, who’d do well to remember this so as to resist the urge that some feel to …

Israel’s war cabinet has been meeting to discuss its next move after fighting off a massive air attack launched by Iran and its proxies on Saturday, April 13. Speaking after the cabinet met on Sunday, April 14, Benny Gantz indicated that no immediate response is planned, but that Israel plans …

For decades, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a “shadow war.” Falling short of direct military confrontation, this conflict has been characterized by war through other means – through proxies, cyber attacks, economic sanctions and fiery rhetoric. Events over the last few weeks in the Middle East have, however, …