Free Republic

Russia maintains the balance of power among these three alliances, in order to advance its own interests, exactly as the European powers did during their heyday in the 19th century. One of her main tasks is ousting the United States from the region and simultaneously putting pressure on Washington in the global geopolitical games. (See addendum below) It is calculating, calibrated and clever realpolitik, contrasting with America’s ignorant, chaotic and inconsistent politics based on ideological, mercantile or personal preferences. Israel is holding back the ambitions of both Iran and Turkey. This is a good thing from Russia’s point of view....

The Two-State Solution is dead. All that remains is for the US to declare it so. Palestinians leaders and Israeli leaders have made it clear. In a speech on Jan 10/14, Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas made it crystal clear that he would never abandon the “right of return”, would never recognize Israel as a Jewish state and would never make a deal unless East Jerusalem was given to the Palestinians as their capital, all of which cross Israel’s red lines. When the latest “peace process was getting started, Israeli leaders kept referring to Abbas as a moderate, contrary...

Have Israel and the Islamists joined forces against Iran? According to DEBKA the answer is yes. But do we believe DEBKA? On Nov 23rd DEBKA reported Obama’s pledge of US troops to Sinai next week won Israel’s nod for ceasefire....it will be a great victory for PM Netanyahu and Israel. But if that is true, why hasn’t Netanyahu mentioned it in concrete terms and why has no one corroborated the report. The article explains: “When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Jerusalem from Bangkok Tuesday, she tried assuring Netanyahu that President Obama had decided to accelerate the construction of...

In my recent article US or Israel will attack Iran by March I accumulated a number of signs in support of my conclusion. Here's another even more conclusive sign. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that this request, revealed by a senior Pentagon official, is the first time in four years that an American general has asked for a special force as a deterrent for Syria and Iran. Our Washington sources interpret the publication of Gen. Abizaid’s request during the visit to Iraq of the new defense secretary Robert Gates’ and head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace as...