Netanyahu to meet Putin, says Iran seeks permanent foothold in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday to voice opposition to what the Israeli leader charged were Iran’s attempts to establish a permanent military foothold in Syria. “In the framework of a (future peace agreement) or without one, Iran is attempting to base itself permanently in […]

US Army sets sights on matching the range of Russian howitzers

The Koalitsiya-SV—Russia’s latest self-propelled howitzer—boasts a maximum firing range of 43 miles, more than double that of America’s M777 howitzer, but the U.S. Army has its sights set on evening the odds. The M777 howitzer is a current staple of U.S. Army light- and medium-weight combat brigades, and has been in use in its latest iteration […]

Expert says Islamic State has badly damaged major Palmyra monument

Islamic State militants have severely damaged a major Roman monument in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, an antiquities official said after visiting the site on Saturday. Under heavy Russian air cover, the Syrian army and allied militias drove the jihadist group out of the UNESCO world heritage site on Thursday, two months after it […]

Meaningful resolution for Syrian peace talks unlikely as talks falter

Tenuous peace negotiations are ongoing between the Assad government and a representative of the Syrian opposition in Geneva, supervised by Russia. Russia is playing head diplomat within the United Nations-backed peace talks, which have had a rocky track record over the past few years. Historically, these peace talks have done nothing to abate the fighting […]

Sweden to draft 4,000 troops to counter Russian aggression

Sweden has long enjoyed its status as a “neutral” nation, but choosing not to align themselves with any of the geopolitical powerhouses prodding one another across national borders doesn’t guarantee their safety if tensions turn to aggression.  With Russia rapidly expanding their military capability and ramping up their aggressive behavior in the region around the […]

Syrian peace talks flounder as participants ask: Where is America?

GENEVA — The vacuum in U.S. policy on Syria is being keenly felt at the latest round of peace talks aimed at negotiating a political solution to the Syrian war — talks that seem destined to wind down this week without meaningful progress. Five days into a round of discussions intended to take place between […]

Plan to defeat Islamic State will potentially increase military commitment in Syria

The Department of Defense’s plan to defeat the Islamic State, as directed by President Trump to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to prepare over a month ago, is complete and ready for the President. The plan reportedly reflects the rapidly changing conditions on the ground in Iraq and Syria against ISIS, where the terrorist group’s […]

Why is it so easy to get inside our heads and manipulate Americans?

This year at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) special guest speakers included none less than President Trump at an event viewed by many as a barometer for the future of the American right.  It isn’t unusual for CPAC to have some minor controversies but this time many were shocked as Trump supporters enthusiastically waved miniature Russian […]

U.N. to vote Tuesday on Syria sanctions despite Russia veto pledge

The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Tuesday on a bid by Western powers to ban the supply of helicopters to the Syrian government and to blacklist Syrian military commanders over accusations of toxic gas attacks, despite a pledge by Russia to veto the move. The Security Council showdown – pitting Syrian ally […]