Hey, we all know Donald Trump is a borderline personality. We know about the serial outrages he perpetrates against truth, history, and the English language. But his recently announced trip to the Middle East is a new 'achievement.' I don't know whether to call it the summit or nadir of insanity. When he visits Israel, he plans to speak at Masada. … [Read more...]
Trump Strives to Undo 70 Years of Bipartisan U.S. Mideast Consensus
There are alarming news reports about upcoming Trump cabinet appointments to fill key slots in the national security and foreign policy apparatus. They raise the specter of undoing nearly 70 years of carefully-constructed consensus in U.S. policy toward the Middle East. Presidents hearkening back to Lyndon Johnson have opposed Israeli settlements, and since … [Read more...]
Kerry Says Iran Withdrawing Forces from Syria, But is It?
Secretary of State John Kerry recently testified before Congress that Iran is planning to withdraw most of its forces from Syria in the near future. He said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were planning to transfer most of their forces from the Syrian front back home. Israeli TV reporter Ehud Yaari elaborated on Kerry's testimony on Israeli TV, … [Read more...]
Clinton and Sanders Fiddle While Palestine Burns
Hillary Clinton made a statement about the Israel-Palestine conflict (you can watch her entire talk on MSNBC starting at 1 hr:29 minutes) on the campaign trail in Iowa that was so stupid that I thought it was worth highlighting. In answer to a question from the audience, she said: “I know what the hard decisions are – for the Israelis it is security – how … [Read more...]