Tag: Middle East

The U.S. diplomatic presence in the eastern reaches of the Middle East is in question as the security for such embassies and consulates is the host countries' responsibility. But when the state has failed, we must ask: Is U.S. diplomacy even possible in much of the region?

President Obama is responsible for a major increase in weapons sales with the majority of weapon exports going to the Middle East and Persian Gulf. The Obama administration has approved more arms sales than any other administration since World War II.

John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif have demonstrated that we don’t have to fight World War III in the Middle East with the framework of the nuclear deal. Diplomacy can work—war is not the only available policy tool.

The Middle East already has enough horrible issues without having nuclear weaponry added to the mix. The UN has treated Israel very different from how Iran was treated but should be discouraged when it comes to weaponry like the rest of the Middle East.

Republican critics of the Iran nuclear agreement draft have long time favored war over negotiation, preparing talking points against any eventual deal. So what will their bad advice cost us this time around?

One journalist investigates the FBI’s use of informants in sting operations in an exposé called "How the FBI Created a Terrorist." Join Democracy Now discusses an elaborately orchestrated FBI sting that took place in 2012.

What will President Obama be known for in future history books? It could be for some positive changes he made for his citizens or it could be for his poor decision to open the door to drone warfare.

President Obama has announced his new "complicated plan" to deal with ISIL and it involves training a "third force", therefore creating a Free Syrian Army to attack al-Qaeda and ISIL. But is this a practical option to fighting the radical extremists?

It seems, in order to pass a certain agenda, modern time presidents will use the idea of fear. Keeping U.S. citizens afraid of terrorism and other countries have let aggressive military policy become justified.

While ISIS continues to haunt the nightmares of Western journalists and security analysts, Juan Cole points out some assertions about the "Islamic State" that are truly exaggerated and completely incorrect.