"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."-----George W. Bush, 8/15/08, on Russia's military offensive into Georgia.

Indeed, Mr. Bush. Demanding that Iran forgo uranium enrichment, a right enshrined in the NPT to which it is a signatory, before diplomacy and negotiations...

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq is on a state visit to Iran (which began on Saturday evening), his third since he assumed office in 2005. He was, as is customary for Muslim heads of state (and prime ministers), granted an audience with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The photographs...

As Iran once again becomes the centerpiece of the foreign policy debate between the two likely candidates for president, analysts and commentators continue to weigh in on the glaring difference between the positions of Senators Obama and McCain on how to tackle the Persian question. David Brooks, writing in...

If there were ever a perfect example of the Bush administration's utterly bankrupt, and provably impotent, foreign policy, it would have to be the State Department's reaction to events in Beirut over the last few days. The laughably weak U.S.-backed Lebanese government, in what can only be described as...

Let us assume for a moment that the Democratic convention commences in August without a presumptive nominee. (Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama appear likely to throw in the towel before the convention, no matter what happens on May 6, and it also seems increasingly likely that the candidates will...

AP: February 2, 2008: Putin fielded an array of questions touching on topics ranging from steps to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program to water levels in a particular Russian reservoir. Asked what he does to brighten up a bad mood, he said he talks to his dog,...

While most Americans (and the writers on and visitors to this site, as well as most of the media) remained largely focused on the race for the democratic nomination (and the subject of race within that race), a little war within a war erupted last week in Iraq, and then...

President George Bush's most recent remarks on Iran, as usual fact-challenged and unhelpful, have finally made the transition from the politically contrived to the downright stupid. The media rushed to question the White House on Mr. Bush's comments, made in an interview to Radio Farda, the U.S. government radio...

The media and Senator Barack Obama's campaign have rightly reported on or mocked Senator John McCain's apparent foreign affairs ignorance, or gaffe if one is to be generous, during his recent trip to the Middle East -- ignorance which led to him state (repeatedly) that "everyone knows" that Iran...

Hillary Clinton's now infamous commercial depicting the White House red phone (it's not red, but red makes it even scarier) ringing at 3am, is thought by many to have contributed to her margins of victory in the Texas and Ohio primaries. While Barack Obama supporters and some in the media...

The Pentagon's version of the encounter in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday morning, involving U.S. Navy warships and Iranian Revolutionary Guard patrol boats is, at the very least highly suspicious. On Tuesday, the Navy released video footage and an audiotape to back its claims that the Iranian boats...

With all the fuss about Iran's capture and detention of fifteen British sailors and marines a week ago, very few in the media have wondered where the normally outspoken president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stands on the issue. Western governments generally, and the Western media in particular, have elevated Dr....

The execution of Saddam Hussein, or more specifically, the behavior of the executioners and the release of a video of the dictator's last minutes, continues to be called into question here and abroad. Curiously, the White House has so far refused comment, excepting the comment that George Bush hasn't...

Goodbye Grand Old Party; goodbye Boy Genius. At least for now.

Goodbye to George Bush's vision for America (and the world), goodbye to Don Rumsfeld and his vision for the US military (and the world).

Goodbye Dick Cheney and the Imperial Presidency: when the Saudis say jump, will you...

Un-Curious George flew in his British servant to Washington this week, presumably not only for moral support in trying times, but to also help him understand the just-released Iraq Study Group report, since apparently neither a Cliff Notes version nor an audio version are yet available. But having had his...

Mr. Beck:

It seems that the Muslims of the world (and not just those who are out to do you harm) offend you, so allow me to stand up and be counted amongst your enemies. Why, you say? Because I am everything that you despise. I am a Muslim,...

Last week, the week of the opening of the UN General Assembly, all eyes (or at least politically interested eyes) fell on New York and more specifically President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who on his second trip to New York, and at a crucial time during the ongoing nuclear discussions, not...

Former President Khatami of Iran is on a twelve day visit to the U.S., and I've had the opportunity to accompany him in his travels (which I will be writing about for a publication later). From the day of his arrival in New York, Mr. Khatami and his staff have...

In Friday's New York Times, Tom Friedman subjects us to more of his drivel on the subject of the Middle East. He admits that he hasn't decided yet who's the winner in the war between Hezbollah and Israel (how much time do you need, Tom?), but he's certain who...

Google "9th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Iraqi Neighboring States" and you'll be rewarded with 195,000 entries. Scanning the first 50 or so entries, you'll find that almost all the references to that meeting, held July 8-9 in Tehran, to be from Iranian or Arab news sources. (9th...