Western specialists tend to underemphasize the importance of state ideology in the foreign policy of Iran. In contrast, Western specialists tend to overemphasize the importance of state ideology in the foreign policy of Russia. There is the tendency to label the Russian leadership as irrational and dangerous while the Iranian leadership is not similarly labeledContinue reading “How the West Misunderstands Russia and Iran”
Tag Archives: Sanctions
Who is Right on Iran?
What are Iran’s intentions in Vienna? Non-Iranian intelligence agencies do not appear to know. Many weeks ago there was a flood of Israeli predictions of an imminent deal in Vienna but those fears have certainly not materialized and now even the Americans appear skeptical at the feasibility of a return to the JCPOA. I haveContinue reading “Who is Right on Iran?”
Why Russia does not Want to Change Course
Two decades ago, Vladimir Putin asked the West to allow Russia to become a member of NATO. This informal request was promptly rebuffed. What view does Russia take of the option of a US-led Asian defense alliance encircling China? For Russia this is primarily a question of lack of trust or to put it differently,Continue reading “Why Russia does not Want to Change Course”
Is Russia Acting Rationally or Irrationally?
The prevailing consensus among Russia experts and apparently among scientists in the Western intelligence community is that President Vladimir Putin has become irrational. There are various explanations that are put forward such as autism, megalomania, personality disorders (psychopathy or narcissism), two years of Covid isolation and the alleged and/or actual influence of various historical andContinue reading “Is Russia Acting Rationally or Irrationally?”
First Things First
American diplomacy and American leadership is imperative in ending the war in Ukraine which undoubtedly is intended by Russia to constitute the very beginning of WWIII. Relations between Moscow and Washington are at their lowest point in decades but it is nevertheless essential for the United States to reach out diplomatically to the Russian Federation.Continue reading “First Things First”
The US Cannot Guarantee that an Anti-Semite Won’t be Elected President
The US is pressuring Israel to join the ill-advised sanctions regime against Russia which does not help Ukraine one iota and makes a diplomatic resolution more difficult. Israel is not a banana republic and has its own independent national interests. If this was an interest of secondary or tertiary importance then Israel would surely relentContinue reading “The US Cannot Guarantee that an Anti-Semite Won’t be Elected President”
The Russian Military Incompetence
All militaries are incompetent to varying degrees due to regular militaries being huge apparatuses based on planned centralized command economy. This of course is breeding ground for incompetence and bureaucratic failure. Asymmetric warfare is precisely so effective because it is non-bureaucratic with a decentralized command structure. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is unique in theContinue reading “The Russian Military Incompetence”
Feeding the Russian Crocodile
There is a significant likelihood and risk indeed that not militarily defending democratic Ukraine will incentivize Putin’s Russia into military aggression against NATO nations. Admitting Ukraine into NATO would have averted the Russian invasion and now it is too late, a democracy of 41 million citizens is about to fall to imperialist aggression. Putin’s impressionContinue reading “Feeding the Russian Crocodile”
Conflict with Iran is Inevitable
There is no chance of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran for the simple reason that Tehran is not interested in temporary sanctions relief as the next Republican administration would promptly reimpose sanctions. However, even if hypothetically a nuclear agreement was reached between Tehran and Washington, this would only defer the conflict. Iran is hell-bentContinue reading “Conflict with Iran is Inevitable”
How Iran Interprets America’s Eagerness to Return to the JCPOA
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein How does Tehran perceive American eagerness to return to the JCPOA and Rob Malley’s desperate appeasement negotiations tactics in Vienna? The Iranian impression is that the White House greatly fears Iran and that Iranian biological weapons terrorist deterrence vis-a-visContinue reading “How Iran Interprets America’s Eagerness to Return to the JCPOA”
Biden’s Ukraine Policy Harms US Interests
Why is it that the US government has a Ukraine policy that it does not believe will be effective? On the one hand does the US threaten Russia with severe economic sanctions and on other hand does the US predict that there is a high likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the sameContinue reading “Biden’s Ukraine Policy Harms US Interests”
What can be Expected on Iran
The Biden administration’s hawks and doves are busy preparing the US for two parallel tracks. Even the doves are becoming aware that the JCPOA is doomed and are therefore preparing for what they imagine will be negotiations on an entirely different nuclear agreement with Iran beyond the JCPOA. The hawks are preparing Plan B withContinue reading “What can be Expected on Iran”
Will the US Join an International Coalition to Impose a No-Fly Zone over Iran?
What will US policy on Iran be after the demise of the JCPOA? Secretary of State Antony Blinken has strongly and repeatedly pronounced that the Malley doctrine (endless negotiations) is not US policy (or rather no longer US policy). The US has however given no indications as to what will be its Iran policy afterContinue reading “Will the US Join an International Coalition to Impose a No-Fly Zone over Iran?”
Aliyah Organization 