[escenic_image id="55165683"]The parliamentary elections of 29 November 2010 mark the beginning of a long electoral season.  The ruling National Democratic Party, or the government’s party as it is…

[escenic_image id="55165690"] Two seats away from his father, paramount leader of the country, and next to one of the most powerful military officials, sits a party member who resembles his…

[escenic_image id="55164669"]Six months after the Iraqi parliamentary elections, the absence of a new government leaves an ever-increasing power vacuum. With the Iraqiyya alliance and the State of…

[escenic_image id="55163710"]“I feel sure I am right when I say that the less the Afghans see of us, the less they will dislike us,” said Frederick Roberts, an Anglo-Irish commander. That was in 1880…

[escenic_image id="55159367"] It’s a pity commonsense does not drive diplomacy. If it did, Washington might realize that its schizophrenic nuclear policy in the Middle East is a bigger risk to…

[escenic_image id="55158793"]Last Friday, Rahm Emanuel, the most powerful White House chief of staff since Ronald Regan’s James Baker, announced his resignation. He leaves his powerful position…

[escenic_image id="5576184"]The impending sale of billions of dollars of additional US weapons to Saudi Arabia, if realized, could achieve a major improvement in Saudi military capabilities. Although…

[escenic_image id="55155341"]It was only five years ago when the then unknown mayor of Tehran kissed the hands of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his inauguration as president. At the time,…

[escenic_image id="55144526"]After months in which it was not clear just how influential the Tea Party would be and if the anger it channeled would have practical political implications, in the…

[escenic_image id="55150410"]While most Afghanistan observers are looking to major operations in Marjah and Kandahar for signs of how President Obama's new counterinsurgency strategy is progressing,…