Tag Archives: Gaza war

Controlled Escalation in the Middle East

April 15, 2024 Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, I have held the view that Iran will continue to support its Middle East proxies but not to the brink of war with Israel. I still do. Although Washington … Continue reading

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The Middle East, A Look at the Recent Past

February 21, 2024 The following are two posts from nearly three years ago. Both draw attention to the usual pattern of regional conflict. Where the war in Gaza might lead remains to be seen.

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The Middle East, World’s Region of Conflict

February 12, 2024 US State Department’s Office of the Historian says that  Secretary of State Warren Christopher “eschewed confrontation in favor of negotiation with friend and foe alike”. Indeed, during his tenure as Secretary of State, from January 1993 to January … Continue reading

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Iraq and Syria Refuse Being Made Punching Bags

February 5, 2024 On January 3, twin blasts near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, killed a hundred people and injured scores in the southern Iranian city of Kerman adding to concerns … Continue reading

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Ankara’s Troubled Relations with Washington

January 29, 2024 Türkiye’s governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power following the general election on November 2, 2002. This marked the end of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Ecevit, the prominent leader of Türkiye’s democratic … Continue reading

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Russia, China, and the War in Gaza

January 25, 2024 On October 7, 2023, a comment by Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the conflict, which has continued for 75 years, cannot be resolved by force and can be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic … Continue reading

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US and Israeli Leaders on Different Wavelengths

January 22, 2024 On January 18, Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that Israel under his leadership will not compromise on less than total victory over Hamas, and they will win. “In any arrangement in the foreseeable future — with an arrangement … Continue reading

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The Question of the Endgame in Gaza

January 17, 2024 That the US and the UK reacted militarily to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea was no surprise. What is striking is how after years of war, Yemen, a country going through the world’s … Continue reading

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2024: Another Challenging Year for the West

January 2, 2024 On May 7, 2021, China initiated a virtual discussion at the UN Security Council on the future of the Organization and the international order.  In remarks to the Security Council, Secretary Blinken, after thanking China for the … Continue reading

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Looking Back at the Year 2023

December 18, 2023 For most of the past year, the war in Ukraine and Washington’s strategic competition with China dominated the global agenda. Then came the October 7 Hamas onslaught against Israel creating yet another maelstrom of uncertainty for the … Continue reading

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