"There's definitely serious turbulence ahead as always in times of transition"
written by: Ioannis Michaletos
Aug 18, 2010

- Interview with Iason Athanasiadis on the Middle East affairs conducted by ...more

Peace Through Prosperity in Afghanistan
written by: Michael Hughes
Aug 17, 2010

To say Afghanistan has been victimized by the tides of history and a disadvantageous geographical location would be understating the amount of suffering derived from the misfortune of the ages. Because Afghanistan has managed to exist both at the wrong time as well as at the wrong place, which has ...more

UN and the Palestinian State
written by: Ruba Zinati
Aug 04, 2010

In November 29^th, 1947 the General Assembly adopted the UN resolution 181 (II), with opposition of every Middle Eastern country represented in the UN. This resolution was drafted and adopted after the Mandatory Power of Palestine, requested a General Assembly in a special session ...more

A new security structure for the Persian Gulf ?
written by: Dieter Farwick
Aug 03, 2010

- Book review written by Dieter Farwick, Global Editor WSN -

In his new book, " Building Security in the Persian ...more

Losing the Scent in South Lebanon
written by: Jonathan Spyer
Jul 29, 2010

Last week, the IDF released evidence of Hizbullah stockpiling of weaponry in populated civilian areas of southern Lebanon. The IDF material showed an aerial map of the Shi'ite town of El Khiam. The map showed details of a developed military infrastructure woven into the fabric of the town's civilian ...more

Why Israel Shouldn't Attack Iranian Nuclear Installations--Unless It Has to Do So
written by: Barry Rubin
Jul 28, 2010

An Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations for the purpose of trying to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons at all would be a mistake. Instead, Israel should plan--and indeed is planning--for a multi-layer campaign of airstrikes, missile defenses, and other measures in the event of Iran ...more

PA President Abbas: "Hamas is part of the Palestinian people."
written by: Manuela Paraipan
Jul 26, 2010

As proximity talks are about to end between the Palestinians and Israel, Mahmoud Abbas comments in Bucharest on the current convoluted situation

On July 13, I caught up with President Mahmoud Abbas in a villa in Bucharest where he was staying at the invitation of ...more

The Afghan War Military Documents 2004-2009 by WikiLeaks.org
Jul 26, 2010

WikiLeaks today released over 75,000 secret US military reports covering the war in Afghanistan.

The Afghan War Diary an extraordinary secret compendium of over 91,000 reports covering the war in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2010. The reports ...more

Interview with Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq
written by: Corneliu Pivariu
Jul 13, 2010

Question (Q): How do you evaluate the meeting you had with Ph.D. Iyyad Allawi? Are there any common standpoints which would allow further consultations between your State of Law Coalition and Allawi’s Iraqi ...more

Containing Iran Requires Getting Smart, Tough, and Serious
written by: Barry Rubin
Jul 12, 2010

Note: This is an updated and revised version of my article in the July-August issue of Foreign Affairs.

It should be too obvious to have to say so but unfortunately some people don't get it: dealing with a nuclear-armed Iran is an extraordinarily important task in which the lives ...more

Replacing the Current AfPak Strategy with a New One
written by: Ehsan Ahrari
Jul 08, 2010

With the firing of General Stanley McChrystal, President Barack Obama appears to be writing his own edition of "lessons in disaster," a book of the same title that he so publicly read and supposedly drew lessons from before committing 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. One wonders whether he ...more

Mineral Riches of Afghanistan: Need for Thinking Out of the Box
written by: Ijaz Khan
Jul 06, 2010

In the life of individuals as well as States there are moments when they must take crucial decisions which determine their future. Opportunities knock at every door; only few are awake and thus respond when there door is knocked. Pakistan has missed many opportunities, yet another one is ...more

Afghanistan Needs A Hero: How A Unifying National Leader Can Bring Peace
written by: Michael Hughes
Jun 28, 2010

There is only one prescription for peace in Afghanistan - a formula clearly laid out to me recently by renowned experts and authorities on Central Asia, including the former highest ranking officer of Pakistan's armed forces.

Khalil Nouri: Afghanistan: - Danger Looms if Afghan Vice President & Warlord becomes Country’s President.
written by: Khalil Nouri
Jun 23, 2010

What some Afghan natives and analysts call the most dangerous part of the world has reached a critical juncture, "a tipping point". Per Guardian ...more

What Motivates Israeli Policy and Actions
written by: Barry Rubin
Jun 15, 2010

I use the opportunity of being interviewed to discuss current developments.

Vice-President Joe Biden has visited Cairo. Do you think his summit with President Husni Mubarak could be useful for solving the Gaza crisis? Is Egypt a strong voice inside Palestinian world?

...more

Interviewing Hamas in Lebanon
written by: Manuela Paraipan
Jun 07, 2010

Ousama Hamdan used to be the go-between between Hamas and Iran, but for years has been the Hamas leader in Lebanon. He talks about problems with the peace process in the Middle East, and the challenges of political partnerships

Introduction

At the ...more

Obama Administration Embraces Russia As "Helpful"; Moscow Stabs U.S. in Back
written by: Barry Rubin
May 27, 2010

If America's Middle East position collapses in the forest will anyone hear it? The answer is either: apparently no, or just barely. As I've predicted Russia is coming back into the region and it is going to play a very bad role. Moscow is linking up with the emerging Islamist alliance of Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hizballah.

Ahmadinejad Unveils His Grand Strategy: A Nuclear Defensive Umbrella for Aggression
written by: Barry Rubin
May 26, 2010

Whatever you think of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad he is not a stupid man. And he's also not acting like an intimidated one. During the latest UN meeting on nuclear issues, when the new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)director-general urged Iran to "clarify" its activities, the ...more

Omar Karami: "Arabs and Muslims feel the U.S. administration is not an honest power broker"
written by: Manuela Paraipan
May 10, 2010

- Interview with Omar Karami, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, conducted by Manuela Paraipan, WSN Editor Broader Middle East -

Get Karzai out of the line of fire in Afghanistan now!
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Apr 12, 2010

Four months ago the World Security Network had already proposed moving Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai out of the line of fire - one of the first global media organisations to do so:

"Karzai should be invited by France into a golden retirement (previously managed successfully with ...more

Afghanistan - Spiritual Home of Taliban set to be next NATO-led target
written by: Delancy Johansson
Apr 06, 2010

At a seminar arranged by the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs, two on-the ground experts, Alex Strick van Linschoten and Felix Kuehn, ...more

Turkey and its foreign policy in the time of Gul - Erdogan - Davutoglu
written by: Corneliu Pivariu
Mar 17, 2010

"In 2023, when the country will celebrate 100 years since the creation of the modern Turkish state, I see Turkey as a full EU member, after having fulfilled all the membership requests, living in peace with its neighbors, integrated with the ...more

U.S. steps up arms sales to Persian Gulf allies
written by: Joby Warrick
Feb 03, 2010

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- The Obama administration is quietly working with Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf allies to speed up arms ...more

The Resistance Strategy: The Middle East's Response to Calls for Peace and Moderation
written by: Barry Rubin
Jan 26, 2010

Have you heard from any of the Western mass media about the Resistance strategy of Middle East radicals? I'm sure you haven't. Yet without understanding this powerful and widely accepted worldview how could anyone possibly comprehend events in the region?

"Resistance" is the slogan used ...more

Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan
written by: Major General Michael T. Flynn, Captain Matt Pottinger and Paul D. Batchelor
Jan 19, 2010

This paper, written by the senior intelligence officer in Afghanistan and by a company-grade officer and a senior executive with the Defense Intelligence Agency, critically examines the relevance of the U.S. intelligence community to the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. Based on discussions ...more

Reshuffling The Cards? (II): Syria's New Hand
Dec 28, 2009

Damascus/Brussels, 16 December 2009: U.S. diplomatic engagement with Syria risks losing momentum if it fails to build upon several potentially promising changes in Damascus's policy.

...more

Reshuffling the Cards? (I): Syria's Evolving Strategy
Dec 22, 2009

Damascus/Washington/Brussels, 14 December 2009: Syria's foreign policy has long been a contradictory mix of militancy and pragmatism, but new dynamics create opportunities for the U.S. if it does more to deepen its engagement.

...more

Veterans of Soviet war see same errors by US
written by: Charles Clover
Dec 08, 2009

It was May 1985 when General Igor Rodionov stepped off a military transport aircraft at Kabul airport, assuming command of the Soviet Union's 40th Army fighting in Afghanistan.

His now-creased face tells the ensuing story better than words. He was the fifth of seven Soviet commanders, sharing ...more