“Al Qaeda Central” Still Dangerous
Vice President Joseph Biden recently proclaimed that the al Qaeda division in Pakistan is not as strong or influential as it used to be. Biden is basing his judgment on current American intelligence assessments on the international terrorism threat. The once-significant al Qaeda cadre in Pakistan is no longer believed to be able to execute [...]
Why START Now?
Foreign policy has returned to the forefront of the news as President Barack Obama recently urged Congressional leaders to ratify the “New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty,” or New START, that he negotiated with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev this spring. The treaty’s terms cannot be implemented until it is ratified, but Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl’s [...]
U.S. Must Consider Arab-Kurdish Issues During Drawdown in Iraq
A longstanding, critical factor to the American drawdown in Iraq is the historical ethnic tension between the Kurds and Arabs of Iraq. The Kurds in Iraq are concentrated in the northern part of the country, constituting between 15%-20% of the total population, and they also have a significant presence in Turkey, Iran and Syria, being [...]
Nigerian Terror Attacks Might Indicate Escalation of MEND Terrorist Organization
The October 1, 2010 attack during the celebration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence has been attributed to a terrorist organization known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), but there are questions as to whether MEND actually carried out the attack. Initially, MEND claimed responsibility for the car bomb attack [...]
Another Israel-Hezbollah War Looming?
Four years after the Hezbollah terrorist organization and the state of Israel waged war against one another, Hezbollah’s strength—militarily and politically—has never looked better. In 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli border patrolmen and initiated strategic rocket attacks on Israeli towns, provoking a war with Israel. The month-long war was devastating, killing about 1,200 Lebanese (many [...]
President Karzai Taking “Bags” of Cash from Iran
The war in Afghanistan continues to challenge the traditional scope of what we think of as war and victory. Recent reports of money from Iran being funneled to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai through close associates is another example of the complex regional situation. The situation is best summed up by General Petraeus, who said, “What [...]
Egypt and Thirsty Neighbors At Odds Over Nile
Nearly 100 years ago, an agreement under British colonial rule reserved 80% of the Nile River’s water for use by Egypt and Sudan. This is different from nearly every other water situation in the world, as the upstream entities—in this case Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda—have the superior bargaining position and significant [...]
North Korea’s Communist Party Appoints Future Leadership
After two postponements due to the uncertainty of the health of Kim Jong-il, the ruling Korean Worker’s Party met in congress for the first time in 30 years at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, last Tuesday. To the surprise of no one, Kim Jong-il was re-appointed as general secretary of [...]
China-Japan Crisis Reminds Asia of Need for U.S. Power
The recent arrest of a Chinese trawler captain by Japan became a major international incident between the two Asian powers. The situation appeared to come to an end when Japan released Captain Zhan Qixiong, but China has now demanded a formal apology and financial compensation from Japan. In perceived retaliation against Japan, China continues to detain [...]
More Antics From Ahmadinejad
Recently, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presence in the media and all over New York has escalated and not without attracting some global attention. President Ahmadinejad’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23rd was more of a spectacle for show than a serious representation of Iran’s humanitarian effort, supposedly the topic of his speech. [...]
