What is the future of diplomacy?

The role of diplomacy and the function of embassies is extremely complex. Now, more than ever, the function of diplomacy abroad is coming into question. Other than insiders, many critical roles and individuals who are in the foreign service of nations including our own, are unknown. It’s an overt role – and an important one. […]

Taliban Gain Ground in Afghanistan as Soldiers Surrender Their Posts

Besieged Afghan officials in the southern province of Oruzgan said on Sunday that scores of regular Afghan soldiers had surrendered in the past week to the Taliban, a trend also occurring recently in other provinces. The latest case involved 41 Afghan National Army soldiers who surrendered and turned their base, the Mashal base in Chora […]

Yemen conflict: Dozens killed when airstrike hits prison in Hudaydah

Dozens of people have been killed at a Yemeni prison complex in airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition, reports say. Strikes hit a building used as a prison in the al-Zaydiya security headquarters in the western port of Hudaydah, according to security and medical officials. The city is under the control of Houthi rebels, who have been battling […]

Israel says troops kill Palestinian who injured three in car attack

Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian who had rammed three border policemen with his car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Israeli police said. The three officers were lightly injured when they were struck by the car near the West Bank town of Beit Ummar, a police spokesman said. Troops at the scene opened fire […]

Defeating ISIS in Mosul may create more challenges

A constellation of warring factions have seemingly set aside deadly disputes to take part in one of Iraq’s toughest challenges yet — clearing ISIS out of its last major stronghold in the country. A successful offensive to recapture Mosul could boost desperately needed national unity, restore the pride of an army that was humiliated when […]

U.S. Officials: Russian and U.S. military aircraft have near weekly close calls

A U.S. military aircraft had a close call with a Russian military fighter jet earlier this month over Syria as tensions between America and Moscow continue to escalate. According to the general in charge of the air war over Iraq and Syria, Russian military aircraft intercept U.S. military planes nearly every week. Lieutenant General Jeff […]

Hezbollah takes control in Lebanon

We have for decades now understood the inherent fragility of Lebanon, a weak, divided nation-state trying desperately to contain the growing power of Hezbollah. Analysts have described the nation as in many ways, increasingly a country wrapped around a terrorist group like a thin cloak. All that ends Monday October 31, 2016. As of that […]

Air strike kills 17 in Yemen as exiled president rejects peace plan

At least 17 civilians were killed in Yemen’s southwestern province of Taiz on Saturday by a Saudi-led coalition air strike that struck a house, local officials and residents said. The raid targeted a house in the al-Salw district, the sources said, an area of Taiz where Houthi rebels and government forces backed by the coalition […]

The Ottoman Empire Strikes Back: Where is Turkey headed?

Turkey is re-emerging to the Middle Eastern scene playing an actual role in the coming solutions. Whether or not those work for the best and persist is anyone’s guess. The Ottoman Empire comprised most of the areas that are in turmoil in the Middle East, today. One thing can’t be denied – they ruled an […]

Blood and War: UN Agency Cooperates With Assad

The United Nations’ World Health Organization, which claims “impartiality and independence from external sources and authorities” in its operations, has been quietly cooperating with Syria’s murderous Assad regime in one of the ugliest aspects of its civil war: the weaponization of blood. WHO claims to be impartial, dispensing relief from suffering according to need, and […]

NATO Chief Says Alliance ‘Does Not Want New Cold War’

Nato is not seeking confrontation with Russia and does not want another Cold War, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has told the BBC. The planned deployment of 4,000 extra troops to eastern Europe aims to prevent, not provoke conflict, he said. Despite current tensions, the military alliance does not see Russia as a threat, he added. Relations […]