It is often the case in democratic societies that reasonable people get saddled with extremist governments. Israel is in such a situation at the moment. Shibley Telhami, the Sadat Chair at the University of Maryland, has released an [pdf] opinion poll of Israelis concerning the possibility of a strike on Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment facilities. […]
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Israel/ Palestine
Israel – Iran Military Comparison
With all the hooplah about a possible Israeli attack on Iran (which I view as rather unlikely), it is worthwhile revisiting the issue of how weak and how much of a nothing the Iranian military is compared to powerhouse Israel. Statistics mostly 2011 from Global Firepower. Note that some comparisons are invidious, as with Israeli […]
Hamas Breaks with Syrian Regime
The Muslim Fundamentalist Palestinian party-militia Hamas, based largely in the Gaza Strip has abruptly broken with its long-time patron, Syria. The leadership has scattered from its offices in Syria to elsewhere in the region, especially Egypt and Qatar. Hamas, although considered an international terrorist group by Washington, is actually just a local, organized resistance movement […]
Republicans silent as Netanyahu disses Gen. Dempsey
Courtesy Paul Jamiol For background see this posting and Ian Master’s recent interview with me on this issue
Indian Investigators do not Suspect Iran in Israel Embassy Blast
India has suffered from both Hindu and Muslim terrorist groups. So the attack on an automobile outside the Israeli embassy in New Delhi could easily have been carried out by an Indian group. Israel’s government, a master of spin and propaganda, immediately blamed the bombing on Iran and Hizbullah. But there is no evidence for […]
How an Israeli Strike on Iran could radically weaken Israel
Some colleagues on an email list got me thinking about the worst case scenario of an Israeli air strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, so here is what I came up with. I think each of these scenarios is plausible in its own right, and that all could well ensue. 1. Iran is now threatening […]
Can Obama Prevail against a Romney-Netanyahu Ticket? – Robertson
John Robertson writes in a guest column for Informed Comment CAN OBAMA PREVAIL AGAINST A ROMNEY-NETANYAHU TICKET? Paul Pillar and Leslie Gelb – both of them well-respected and largely mainstream commentators on US foreign policy – have recently published essays cautioning us all – and Mr. Obama especially – to step back, breathe deeply, ask […]
The Way Forward in the Middle East — Peled & Peled
Yoav Peled and Horit Herman Peled write in a guest column for Informed Comment The Way Forward in the Middle East Reversing a bi-partisan US policy in effect for the last two decades, the Republican National Committee recently endorsed the one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resolving that “peace can be afforded the [Middle east] […]
Obama warns Israel against Iran Strike, Cancels Joint Military Exercises
Here are two signs that the Obama administration is attempting to dial down tensions with Iran, sending powerful symbolic signals that Washington does not want to see the crisis with Iran militarized. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will hold talks this week with his Israeli counterparts. He appears to be […]