Europe’s Nuclear Energy and Central Asian Uranium
The drive toward electrification coupled with the political decision to reduce fossil fuel consumption is creating a situation where, by necessity, there is renewed interest in nuclear energy. In...
Le Figaro
Lebanese Prime Minister Issues Rare Complaint Over Iranian ‘Interference’
Responding to comments made by a senior Iranian official regarding Iran’s willingness to negotiate with France over the implementation of a key UN Security Council Resolution concerning...
Flash Briefs
The Ayatollah in Winter
The Lord works in mysterious ways. That sentence does not appear in the Koran. Nor, actually, is it found in the Bible. But in recent days it has probably occurred to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran...
Op-eds
Why Spying on Merkel Is So Damaging
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, the nuclear-policy strategist Albert Wohlstetter wrote in these pages a fine essay titled "The Fax Will Make You Free." In the 1980s, as he noted, the CIA, work...
Op-eds
Diplomatic Theater
If you’ve been following Syria news over the past week, you’d be forgiven for thinking that feverish, Moscow-centered diplomatic activity was on the cusp of producing an agreement for...
Op-eds
The New War Against America
Last January, President Obama went over to the Pentagon to announce deep cuts in defense. He took the occasion to proclaim: “Even as our troops continue to fight in Afghanistan, the tide of...
Op-eds
Hamas for Sale?
Palestinian news sources reported earlier this month that Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised $300 million to the...
Op-eds
How Assad Stayed In Power—And How He’ll Try to Keep It
Iran, Russia, Turkey and the Syrian Spring
Op-eds
Syria Ruffles Turkey’s Feathers
The attack by Syrian regime thugs on Turkish missions in Syria last Saturday has spurred a strong rebuke and warnings from Ankara. However, while this may have been the most open Syrian attack ag...
Op-eds
The Canadian Peril: Why They’re Checking Passports at the Border Now
In terms of Islamic extremists in Canada [as] they regard the proximity of Canada to the U.S., it's making Canada a kind of Islamic extremist aircraft carrier for the launching of major assa...
Op-eds
Who Stands With Iran’s Opposition?
PARIS — Excruciating new problems never nullify the old ones. In the case of Iran's potential nuclear threat, Egypt's gathering implosion — joined by some new elements of concern — is only mo...
Op-eds
Mikati’s Probationary Period
The reactions from Washington, Paris and Riyadh following Najib Mikati’s designation as prime minister suggest that we are now in a watchful, wait-and-see period. Everyone is keeping a clos...
Op-eds
Sarkozy’s Costly Pipe Dream
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s latest trip to France served as yet another reminder of the obvious futility of the Elysee’s attitude towards Syria under Nicolas Sarkozy. Driving t...
Op-eds
WikiLeaks And The Myth of A “Lebanonized” Hezbollah
The classified military documents obtained by WikiLeaks, which disclose Hezbollah’s role in Iraq under the direct command of the Iranian regime, may not be particularly surprising or even g...
Op-eds
Al-Qaeda Sahara Network Spurs U.S. to Train Chad, Mali Forces
Analyzing the veritable "surge" last summer in attacks launched by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), I suggested in this column space that both the rhetoric of the group and the threat it a...
Op-eds
Europe Facing Radicalization Over the Web
A few months ago Bernard Squarcini the head of the DST (Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire), the French equivalent of the FBI, told the French daily Libération regarding Islamic radicalization: "An ideological transformation can be done in three months on the Web. An individual can at night auto-radicalize himself via the Web and get in touch with leaders of terrorist organizations." This assessment shows how dire the situation is in Europe when it comes to al-Qaida's use of the Web.