If Only…

Clashes in East Jerusalem, sparked by the revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager.

Arab Boy’s Death Escalates Clash Over Abductions – NYTimes.com.

The senseless killing of four teenagers in the Holy Land might pave the way towards further bloodshed, as usual. But, if we had leaders with any signs of life in the White House, – a pulse, a sense of shame, a little decency and foresight, – we might be able to transform this tragedy into a new and serious push for peace. All it takes is gumption and a little less cynicism – that is, the very things that could have prevented the carnage in Syria, and could still stop it today. If only…

Indifference Has a Price!

AP Photo celebrating the "new dynamic" between Obama and Netanyahu following their meeting in march 2013. — AP Photo celebrating the “new dynamic” between Obama and Netanyahu following their meeting in march 2013.

It’s not that he doesn’t care that chaos will be the main consequence of his inaction, or his extremely hesitant and minimalist actions; he seems to actually think that chaos is good. This is one point where he and Benjamin Netanyahu can agree: since their mortal enemies are busy fighting and weakening each other, they decided to give them all the leeway they need to stay at it.

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Making Sense of Obama’s Foreign Policy

Except for the West Bank and Gaza, the U.S. is responsible for drone attacks that took place in all these locations. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates remain active in all of them. — Except for the West Bank and Gaza, the U.S. is responsible for drone attacks that took place in all these locations. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates remain active in all of them, and has reportedly grown belligerent and popular.

What might have sounded like a conspiracy theory not too long ago now dawns upon us like an ugly truth.

Drone attacks and clandestine operations authorized by President Obama have so far contributed, albeit to varying degrees, to the destabilization of Pakistan, Yemen and Libya. The same effect has also been achieved in Syria and Iraq but mostly through inaction.

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Syria and the perils of proxy war

Syria and the perils of proxy war – latimes.com.

Reducing the current proxy-war situation in Syria to a Saudi-Iranian competition over regional hegemony is a gross oversimplification and overlooks serious involvement by other actors, including Turkey, Qatar, Israel, U.S., France, the U.K. and Russia, to name but the most visible operators. There is much at stake in Syria for many different powers around the world. The Saudi-Iranian proxy-war could not unfold without support, or lack thereof, from these other players.