War
Yemen’s Houthis are bringing their war to Saudi Arabia – and reframing the narrative of being an Iranian proxy
A deadly bombing at Riyadh’s international airport is the latest in a tit-for-tat retaliation campaign the Houthis have ramped up for weeks.
21 years after disaster helped bring peace to Aceh – has botched Indonesian response to floods reignited calls for independence?
A decades-long insurgency in the Indonesian province ended after 2004’s devastating tsunami. But pro-independence talk is on the rise again.
Middle East is the latest arena of political recalibration for Italy’s right‑wing but pragmatic Meloni
The Italian leader has positioned Italy as a geopolitical hinge between competing power centers. The Middle East has just given that strategy a new environment.
Trump’s Cuba report borrowed heavily from my book on an anti‑imperialist movement – but twisted the arguments
The State Department views a 1960s-era internationalist movement based in Havana as a Cuban communist plot to destroy America. The truth was far more nuanced.
Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?
Iraq has pursued friendly relations with many countries who are themselves at odds. The strategy has lots of upside for war-torn Iraq – but holds key risks as well.
The war in Iran – again – points to the strategic shortcomings of assassination as policy of foreign affairs
Targeted killings can disrupt an adversary, but they rarely lead to collapse — especially when the target is a nation-state like Iran.
The ‘warrior ethos’ promises victory — history says it leads to defeat
Loyalty outranks expertise, and reality bends to the leader’s word. From Nazi Germany to Imperial Japan, fascist war machines collapse on the same contradictions.
Lebanon’s orchards have been burnt, wildlife habitat destroyed by Israeli strikes – raising troubling international law questions
Ongoing conflict, particularly in a three-month period in late 2024, caused widespread environmental destruction and the spread of toxic materials.
Russia’s drone pipeline: How Iran helps Moscow produce an ever‑evolving unmanned fleet
Ukraine has warned that Russia could soon be pumping out 1,000 drones a day. Iranian technology has driven that growth.
As the Kremlin eyes a thaw with the White House, Russia’s pro‑war hawks aren’t too happy
A majority of Russians are in favor of peace talks, but a very vocal minority eye US overtures with suspicion and contempt.