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There are no good solutions to the conflict in Syria.  We have already seen the Syrian government accept the UN Security Council backed UN-Arab League envoy, for it to fail and chemical weapons used subsequently. Moreover, we have seen how even when the…

Todays media question:

Q :How do you view the incosisitant attaitude of Rouhani? Does it mean that Rouhani is actually nothing different with Ahmadinejad?

Rouhani’s “inconsistent attitude” isn’t at all inconsistent, but rather a factor of domestic…

Secretary Kerry’s recent trip to the region has refreshed the internal debate in Washington DC — this is a debate which is as confused as it is confusing.  It is a rehash of the classic debate between democracy versus stability and security.   What’s…

Q：US has been trying all these years to “dominat”e the Middle East region according to its own wills, yet currently it seems that the 3 most important strategic allies—Egypt, Saudi Arab and Israel are angry with US for respective reasons (Cutting aids,…

This is a busy week for the Middle East, with some important milestones.  We have already seen that Secretary Kerry is attempting to close the rift between Washington and Cairo, on the eve of the Morsi trial.  But hopefully there will be some movement on…

We filmed an episode of Crosstalk today, so I thought I would share my talking points in advance of the show being aired on Monday.  Not everything here was said, but the questions they sent in advance will give you a broad sense of what was said on the…

I was asked to provide comments for Sanlian LifeWeek Magazine in China today, and thought I would blog my responses in English …   Q：With regards to the two operations in Africa, does this demonstrate that the US is shifting its counter-terriorism…

On September 16-18 2013, The University of Warwick hosted the Globalisation and American Grand Strategy in a Time of Austerity Conference organized by Oz Hassan.   Over the three days the conference had 120 delegates from around the world, making it the…

US Cuts Aid to Egypt - Holding Back the Toys

The reaction to the Obama administration cutting aid to Egypt has been mixed.  Israel has talked of…

The kidnap and release of Ali Zeidan tells us what we already knew about the current situation in Libya.  The security situation in the country is deeply precarious and “revolutionary” militias are ultimately in power.  They out number, by size and…

Obama’s red line was crossed on August 21st with 1400 dead from chemical attacks in Syria. The UN weapons inspection team has landed and Obama has been briefing US senators all day. The UK has voted not to participate in any military intervention, France…

A month ago America’s top military officials were warning about the very real problems of war with Syria. It would not only be expensive in military terms, but also in financial (estimated to cost $1bn a day). But recent events, the suspected chemical…

Obama delays Egypt's F16 Shipment

The growing violence in Egypt has led the US delaying the shipment of F16 fighter jets. With…

A new and worrying form of violence has erupted in Egypt.  With an bomb exploding at the security HQ in Cairo, it is clear that the overthrow of the Islamist government is having profound consequences for the security of the country.  Interim president…

Saudi Arabia and UAE pledge $8bn to Egyptian Economy

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pledged $8bn to help prop up the high problematic and deeply troubled…

The army has oust Morsi and Adil Mansour has been installed to oversea a technocratic government. The military has said that new elections will take place, but no timetable has been established and it is difficult to see how a new process that doesn’t…

The political uncertainty in Egypt is has having a direct effect on the global economy.  Concern that the flow of oil tankers through the Suez Canal could be disrupted has led to the price of US crude oil reaching $100 a barrel – the highest level in more…