All Security Watch
What the US is doing to help some Syrian rebels, undermine jihadisUS Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford laid out to Congress the Obama administration's efforts to help some Syrian rebels, and undermine jihadi rebels like Jahbat al-Nusra.
The real warning in Syrian chemical weapons claimsThe speed with which some US politicians and reporters are buying in to claims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria is a reminder to take a hard look at intelligence claims before rushing into another war.- Penn & Teller in Cairo, 2003A different time.
West Bank hosts Obama, Gaza sends rocketsThe day President Obama held a press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Gaza fired two rockets into southern Israel, starkly illustrating Palestinians' internal divides.
South Korea cyberattack: whodunit?Computer networks at major South Korean banks and top TV broadcasters crashed en masse Wednesday, paralyzing bank machines across the country. Immediate suspicion fell on North Korea.
Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 3: 'We can trust Ahmed Chalabi'Ahmed Chalabi poured sweet words into the ears of powerful Washington insiders for years. For some reason, they thought it was a good idea to believe him.
Bombs rock Baghdad, ten years after Iraq invasion announcedA series of bombs targeted Shiite citizens and soldiers, a reminder that the sectarian wounds of the Iraq war remain open and dangerous, ten years after the US invasion.
Thomas Friedman, Iraq war boosterThe New York Times columnist broke down what the Iraq was really about for Charlie Rose on May 29, 2003.- Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 2: weapons of mass destructionEven if Saddam Hussein had retained WMDs, so what?
- Bad reason to invade Iraq No. 1: Saddam was 'evil'Those claims that Saddam Hussein was a special 'evil' weren't arguments for war, but were good reason to be skeptical about the quality of thought behind the case being made for war.
China warns US missile defense plan will antagonize North KoreaChina criticizes US plans to bolster missile defenses in response to provocations by North Korea, saying they would only intensify antagonism.
Lessons from Iraq... in 1958.Still with some relevance today.
The UN document on women that has terrified Egypt's Muslim BrotherhoodThe Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt has teamed up with Iran, Russia, and the Vatican to oppose a UN draft proposal on reducing violence against women on moral grounds.
From every direction, arms for SyriaFrance is pushing hard, it seems, for Western powers to arm Syria's rebellion. If they get their way, they'll be joining an already crowded playing field.
War draws closer to Lebanon with Syrian threat of attackIn an ominous turn, Syria warned Lebanon today against continuing to provide refuge for rebels battling the Assad regime, saying its restraint was limited.
Iraq attack shows coordination, planning, and numbersWhat the latest terrorist attack in Baghdad tells us about the health of Sunni militant groups (hint: pretty healthy).
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says UN proposal on women will destroy the worldThe Muslim Brotherhood of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has greeted a UN proposal designed to reduce violence against women with unabashed horror.
India bars Italian envoy from leaving, escalating tensions over marines shooting incidentIndia wants Italy to send two Italian marines accused of shooting Indian fishermen back to stand trial. Italy has refused, despite having promised earlier that it would.
Terrorism and freedom fighting along the Syria-Iraq borderWhen some rebel groups kill Syrian government soldiers, the US applauds. When others do the killing, it's 'terrorism.' Why?
Militant attack in Kashmir shatters years of calmThe armed separatism of the 1990s had largely faded away, but a peace accord never followed. Frustration had been mounting in recent weeks over an execution and an expansive policing law.
