Middle East
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The U.S.–Iran MOU: A Lopsided Deal That Hands Tehran The Win
In my senior year of high school, I never got to sleep on weeknights until well after 11:00 P.M. The American hostages were held in Iran, and there was a new late-night news special on ABC providing not only news but also background on the growing crisis. The program would soon be named Nightline. It… Continue reading
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Story Of The Week: Fractions Widen Between UAE and Saudi Arabia
I suggest the most interesting and consequential news story this week was the growing divide between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. I noticed that national evening news broadcasts on ABC and NBC, while giving time to fluff stories and reports because they had videos of crashes and fires, could not provide viewers the… Continue reading
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Iran’s New Strength, Trump’s Weakness: “Please, Please. It’s Too Much Winning. We Can’t Take It Anymore”
My first favorite author was Allen Drury, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Advise and Consent. As a teenager, I ate his books up, thrilled by their political and international stories with a continuous batch of colorful characters. But nothing…I mean nothing…that Drury could make up in his brilliant writing comes close to a plot line… Continue reading
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The United States Should Try Catching Up To Iran
Today, while watching the Saturday Night Live skit at the Defense Department, I had to laugh at the American swagger. I was not aware Colin Jost got up that early on a weekday. If one listened to the current Defense Secretary, one might conclude there has been little time for reading between swigs of whiskey.… Continue reading
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Iran Fiasco Is Proof Why VOA Matters
The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the joint U.S.–Israeli strikes this weekend marks one of the most consequential geopolitical ruptures in decades, and it underscores—more starkly than ever—why a fully empowered Voice of America is not a luxury but a strategic necessity. The breaking of international law by Donald Trump and his administration, along… Continue reading
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Actions Must Follow Recognition Of State Of Palestine By European Countries
Sunday during the Willy Street Parade, part of the Williamson Street Festival, a pro-Palestinian contingent of walkers and activists made the push for an end to the destruction of Gaza and the killing of people. They also stressed for awareness about the need for a Palestinian State. That portion of the parade on the Madison… Continue reading
Caffeinated Politics 