Perceptions of Weakness
In his panic-stricken effort to disentangle America from the Middle Eastern mess, Trump now appears to be falling into line with Tehran’s wishes.
Benny Morris
· 13 min read
Donald Trump
A collection of 112 posts
Four Inconvenient Truths About the Conflict in Lebanon
Western political will and good intentions are no match for a complex reality rife with conflicting interests and ideologies.
Eric Bordenkircher
· 9 min read
Taiwan in the Balance
Donald Trump seems to have given up on Taiwan’s long-term future.
Aaron Sarin
· 8 min read
The Wrong Man
In Iran, Donald Trump is showing us what a populist war looks like.
Michael J. Totten
· 11 min read
Postliberalism After Hungary
Orbán’s defeat should scare the hell out of populist authoritarians.
Matt Johnson
· 13 min read
The Battle for the Strait
After the failure of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, the United States remains at war with Iran and Trump’s priority is to liberate the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.
Benny Morris
· 9 min read
Foreign Power, Local Politics
Where local collaboration is absent, foreign intervention imposes enormous costs or simply stalls. Where it exists, intervention can succeed with surprising velocity.
Pablo Policzer
· 10 min read
The Edifice Complex
Monuments don’t create legacy; they merely memorialise it.
Timothy Devinney
· 6 min read
Trump, Tehran, and the China Calculus
The CCP will certainly take advantage should Iran turn into a major distraction for the US.
Aaron Sarin
· 7 min read
Hearts of Darkness
Laura K. Field’s smart new book takes a critical look at MAGA’s Ivy League intellectuals.
George Case
· 8 min read
A New World Order in the Making
An interview with Dr Shmuel Bar.
Hannah Gal, Shmuel Bar
· 13 min read
The United Nations Is Going Broke
Too often, the UN’s valuable field work is overshadowed by cynical political posturing. As a result, collecting annual dues from member states has become more difficult.
Brian Stewart
· 8 min read
A Strike Against Beijing
Operation Epic Fury is not just about Iran.
Aaron Sarin
· 7 min read
A Justified Assassination
In this week’s column, I reflect on the death of Ayatollah Khamenei—and why it may be a moment for cautious celebration.
Iona Italia
· 6 min read
Toppling a Tyrant
The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei has opened a narrow window for regime change in Tehran.
Benny Morris
· 12 min read