All Security Watch
- Observer mission in Syria begins to unravel, pushing forward UN option
As the Arab League observer mission in Syria teeters amid accusations from members it is a farce, pressure may build for Syria to be referred to the UN Security Council.
- US ends longest lull in drone strikes over Pakistan. Why now?
The two-month freeze in US drone strikes in Pakistan, the longest in three years, was intended to allow time for US-Pakistan relations to heal after a mistaken US strike on Pakistani soldiers.
- Iran keeps issuing threats, US keeps saving Iranian sailors
As Iran has been promoting its naval prowess and ability to shut the Straits of Hormuz, US naval assets have been busy rescuing Iranian sailors.
- Ahmadinejad, Chavez taunt US from Caracas
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez poked fun at the US for its worry about the possibility of Iranian nuclear weapons.
- Thomas Friedman in Cairo: A fact-check
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is enormously influential, with a cabinet full of Pulitzer prizes, so it's important to set the record straight when he gets some facts wrong.
- Syria's Assad, in rare speech, claims victory is nigh
President Assad once again blamed the 10-month uprising on foreign conspirators and armed gangs. But this time, Arab League monitors in Syria may contradict his version of events.
- Iran sentences an American to death: the history of such 'spies'
The good news is that many Americans accused of spying in Iran are eventually released. The bad news for Amir Mirzaei Hekmati is that Iranian-Americans have it rougher.
- Iran sentences American to death for spying
Iranian-American Mirzaei Hekmati was sentenced to death in Iran today after being accused of spying for the US – a charge leveled against Americans in Iran many times before.
- Syria on edge as monitors prepare to give initial report
The Arab League monitors will make their report on Syria today as critics worry the mission is not credible.
- US democracy NGOs in Egypt still shuttered
Making life hard for NGOs, particularly foreign ones, has long been a sport in Egypt.
- In Syria, peaceful protests – but also signs of growing violence
The battle for Syria is getting messier. Today, large crowds turned out to call for the fall of Assad's regime. But a Damascus blast killed at least 25 – a sign of how complex the uprising may become.
- Turkey jails former leader of its once-exalted military
The jailing of Turkey's former top military official, pending a trial on charges of terrorism and plotting to bring down the government, is only the latest of hundreds of arrests of those who pose a threat to the government's power.
- Iraq bombings, political crisis raise concerns of renewed civil war
Bombings in Iraq targeted two Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad today. The violence, coming amid a Sunni-Shiite political crisis, threatens to inflame the tensions that led to civil war in 2006-07.
- Arab League's Syria mission faces mounting criticism
Last week the criticism focused on the questionable credentials of the Arab League Syria mission's leader. This week it is about whether the mission is capable of doing its job.
- Egypt's big battle: Muslim Brotherhood vs. the military
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood appears to have put up another strong showing in the last round of Egypt's parliamentary election – possibly enough for a parliamentary majority.
- After Iran threatens US carrier, bluff will probably be called
Crude oil prices surged after Iran dialed the threat-o-meter up to 11 with a vow to attack a US aircraft carrier if it returns to the Strait of Hormuz. The US 5th Fleet is likely to take up the challenge.
- Syria pipeline explodes as Arab League mission limps on
The government blamed a Syria pipeline explosion today on 'terrorists.' Meanwhile, concerns mount that the Arab League mission to Syria won't stop the fighting.
- The Iraq war death toll? At least 162,000 and counting
Most concerning in a new report's analysis of the Iraq war death toll is evidence of the high level of violence that's persisted since the civil war ended.
- Middle East in 2012? Egypt and Iran and Syria and... oh, my.
Last year was momentous, but the region may just be getting warmed up.
- Iran test-fires new missile as Strait of Hormuz posturing continues
Iran test-fired a new Qader missile today in the latest bout of martial posturing over the country's nuclear program and the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for oil.