VDH: Theocratic Iran is not exactly as "empowered" as is generally alleged, but in the greatest crisis of its miserable existence. As the mullahs up the ante in the region, they could very soon not only lose Iraq, but also their own dictatorship. Trying to oppose the West in Iraq, Lebanon, and the West Bank … Continue reading Hope In Iran
A reader writes: I must confess that I simply do not have the foggiest idea as to what you think should be done about Iran. You say things like "the threat is real" and "we have to fight and not accomodate" and "negotiating with fascists is a mug’s game"… When has the policy of refusing … Continue reading Iran, Again
It’s good to see some of the contours of the argument between neocons and realists come into clearer focus. I’m more persuaded by the neocons on this one, precisely because I tend to believe what religious fanatics say about their own motives and aspirations. Iran’s leaders – especially the current president – have been quite … Continue reading The Iran Debate
Perhaps the prevailing theme of this blog these past seven years has been the hope and promise of the Obama presidency. I’ve long insisted that his record will only be fully understood after eight years, that his role as the liberal Reagan of our time could not be glimpsed fully in real time – the … Continue reading The Long Game Of Barack Obama
In a column from last week, Fareed Zakaria recommends limiting our Syria strategy to containment, emphasizing the unlikelihood that American power can resolve the country’s civil war. He stresses the difficulty of finding reliable partners among the Syrian rebels, a topic the Dish has covered repeatedly. Fareed concludes: The crucial, underlying reason for the violence in Iraq and Syria … Continue reading Desperately Seeking Moderates, Ctd
Readers keep asking me: I would love your perspective on the debate Bill Maher, Ben Affleck and Sam Harris attempted to have on Friday’s Real Time. I’m sure many other Dishheads would too. Can you please weigh in? It really is a fascinating topic that is drawing a lot of attention. There’s been so much … Continue reading The Best Of The Dish Today
Well, I thought the frankness of that might provoke a response. I was asked whether I was an isolationist (no) and what I actually proposed we do with respect to the latest Sunni insurgency in Iraq – an insurgency I think will continue until the Sunnis regain what they believe is their rightful place running … Continue reading “Nothing”
Ted Cruz, some supporters are arguing, is dead-set on a presidential campaign for 2016 and determined to make foreign policy his focus. It does not appear, it would seem, that this comes from a long mulling over the state of the world today, but instead as a response to the current very Republican-friendly re-animation of … Continue reading The Best Of The Dish Today
Two columns and a revealing concurrence between MoDo and Krauthammer. The Friday Krauthammer piece was one of those larded with barbs at Obama but effectively ends up endorsing the anti-ISIS policy. I mean – how often do you read Krauthammer saying the following? If Obama can remain steady through future fluctuations in public opinion, his … Continue reading The Best Of The Dish This Weekend
Micah Zenko calls out Obama’s strategy against ISIS as another example of “political leaders presenting totally unrealistic and implausible end states”, which has been a hallmark of US counterterrorism since 9/11: Given that two administrations have failed to achieve their end states of defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda and its affiliated organizations, we should be extremely … Continue reading Thirteen Years Of Strategery
