An autocratic state willing to be brutal can often withstand large anti-regime demonstrations by its people as long as (1) the demonstrations are not overwhelmingly large, and (2) the police and/or armed forces remain loyal to the government and willing … Continue reading →
The leaders of Iran are feeling the economic pressure exerted by the Trump administration: The critics of President Trump’s Iran policy have been proven wrong: the US sanctions are imposing significant pressure on the ruling mullahs of Iran and the … Continue reading →
Iran appears to have seized a British tanker. This is a relatively recent story, so go there for updates. A Whitehall source told the Telegraph of the Stena Impero: “It does look like it has been hijacked. Ships don’t follow … Continue reading →
Trump announces new Iran sanctions: Today’s action follows a series of aggressive behaviors by the Iranian regime in recent weeks including shooting down a U.S. drone,” the president said in the Oval Office, calling Khamenei “responsible for the hostile conduct … Continue reading →
[See UPDATE below] I happened to turn on my TV late last night to a cable news station and I immediately started hearing talk about how Trump was going to start a war with Iran. The line went something like … Continue reading →
…although Trump and his aides had nothing to do with the Russian effort in 2016, as even Mueller was forced to admit. Iran ran one, too, particularly in 2018: This is the biggest revelation of its kind, highlighting Iran’s ability … Continue reading →
A lot. Read the whole thing, but particularly note this: Hamas and Iranian-controlled Islamic Jihad launched over 600 rockets killing several Israeli civilians. The rockets were launched mostly from civilian locations in Gaza towards civilian locations in Israel. Israel retaliated … Continue reading →
See UPDATE at end of post. [NOTE: I use the past tense for Khashoggi because the consensus is that he is dead. This is certainly more likely than not. But I am not convinced of it, because it has not … Continue reading →
This headline made me chuckle: “UN court tells US to ease Iran sanctions in blow for Trump.” Why would anyone care what the UN says, or consider this a “blow”? More: It remains unclear whether the judgment will be anything … Continue reading →
In certain times and places, the left and the religious fundamentalist right become closely aligned—if only temporarily, as they were during the Iranian revolution of 1979. Their togetherness was puzzling to me at the time, but I later decided that … Continue reading →
Caroline Glick has been mostly bullish Trump’s on foreign policy moves so far, although she’s not completely optimistic; she has some caveats. Here’s what she has to say about Trump’s offer to talk with Iranian leaders like Rouhani: In July, … Continue reading →
Obama really, really, really wanted that deal, and he was more than willing to lie to Congress to further it: The Obama administration secretly sought to give Iran access ”” albeit briefly ”” to the U.S. financial system by sidestepping … Continue reading →