Tag: Middle East

Why do Republicans think that if the U.S. occupied Iraq for longer, Ramadi would have somehow become a U.S. protectorate? The whole debate over “who lost Ramadi” is no debate because Washington never had Ramadi.

Even though President Obama gave assurance to drone strikes, the U.S. just recently admitted to not knowing who it was targeting in its recent attack that resulted in an American casualty. Does this war crime characterize the U.S. drone program?

Tom Engelhardt explores body counts, drones and “collateral damage” in the twenty-first-century world of drone warfare. But one question reigns supreme: Who counts?

Bernie Sanders said that a "war with Iran should be avoided at all costs." And he opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and advised the U.S. to get out of Afghanistan in 2011. So where are going with all this? Here is a look at the Middle East policy of "President Bernie Sanders."

While the Standard Oil Trust fixed prices, set production quotas and ruthlessly forced out competitors, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has control of the industry. If history repeats itself, will the oil industry respond with market manipulation?

President Obama apologized for the U.S. drone strike in Pakistan that took the lives of two hostages. He went on saying the operation was a botched operation and he deeply regretted its outcome.

The U.S. diplomatic presence in the eastern reaches of the Middle East is in question as the security for such embassies and consulates is the host countries' responsibility. But when the state has failed, we must ask: Is U.S. diplomacy even possible in much of the region?

President Obama is responsible for a major increase in weapons sales with the majority of weapon exports going to the Middle East and Persian Gulf. The Obama administration has approved more arms sales than any other administration since World War II.

John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif have demonstrated that we don’t have to fight World War III in the Middle East with the framework of the nuclear deal. Diplomacy can work—war is not the only available policy tool.

The Middle East already has enough horrible issues without having nuclear weaponry added to the mix. The UN has treated Israel very different from how Iran was treated but should be discouraged when it comes to weaponry like the rest of the Middle East.