Recent Posts

Intelligence and Ideology: the Exaggeration of the Threat

The three major military powers (the United States, Russia, and China) systematically and consistently engage in inflation of the threats they face. Each side tends to see the worst motivation and the greatest capabilities in assessing its adversaries in order to justify its own actions. This problem was endemic throughout …

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Biden’s Palestinian Mission is Doomed to Fail

The big problem, though, with Mr Biden’s commitment for the US to work with the Palestinian Authority in Gaza is that the ability of Mr Abbas’s organisation to exercise any influence over Gaza is virtually negligible. While Mr Abbas continues to indulge in the fiction that he is the legitimate …

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Will PLO and Hamas find common ground?

Hamas’ popularity has risen sharply, but this doesn’t help them much with the outside world. An understanding with Fatah is key to any potential role in regional diplomacy. If the relationship between the PLO and Hamas was on shaky grounds after President Mahmoud Abbas canceled the legislative elections, they are …

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Moroccan PM congratulates Hamas for ‘victory’ against Israel

Saadeddine Othmani’s support for the Palestinians during the recent conflict with Israel followed Morocco and Israel agreeing to normalize relations late last year. Morocco’s prime minister congratulated Hamas on its “victory” against Israel following the cease-fire. Saadeddine Othmani wrote to Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on Saturday to congratulate him …

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Moscow looks to expand role in Mideast peace process

Official Russian statements on the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas indicate Moscow is looking for a larger diplomatic role. On May 21, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed support for the Israel-Hamas cease-fire and called for an urgent meeting of the Middle East Quartet to prevent a relapse into conflict. …

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America Dominant Again (in Arms Sales)

When it comes to trade in the tools of death and destruction, no one tops the United States of America. In April of this year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published its annual analysis of trends in global arms sales and the winner — as always — was …

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