Articles Tagged

U.S. headed for showdown with Iran? This commentator has another theory

On Wednesday, Iran’s navy chief said that the Islamic Republic could close the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping channel vital to transporting one third of the world’s crude oil, adding that doing so would be “very easy” for his country’s forces. Including Mohamed Reza Rahimi’s threat on Tuesday to close the Strait if the …

Alusi says, U.S.: “Don’t be the power to help Tariq al-Hashemi; speaks of precarious times for middle east Christians

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In the aftermath of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and with upheaval in middle eastern nations from Egypt to Syria, Christians are more vulnerable than they have been for decades.

This Christmas Day I spoke with my source in Iraq, former Iraqi Parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi, who described the situation as U.S. troops …

My meeting with Newt; other impressions from the RJC candidates’ forum and last debate

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Covering the Republican Jewish Coalition’s candidates’ forum a couple weeks back, I had the (brief) opportunity to meet Newt Gingrich (pictured above with his wife Callista, South Dakota Senator Dan Lederman, and yours truly). I also got to meet Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum. Since the gathering was …

Most do nothing - but judge

This intelligent column in the New York Times by David Brooks on the Sandusky/ Paterno controversy makes the point that people love to judge others, but few stand up to evil.

To that I would add, people also love to demonize those who stand up to evil if the results are messy or produce more suffering, even if that …

Iraqi human rights champion to Obama: stop Iran before it’s too late

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Mithal al-Alusi, human rights leader and former Iraqi Parliamentarian, contacted me last weekend to convey his thoughts about the dire situation for proponents of human rights and liberal values in Iraq. He also urged President Obama to “do something about Iran.”

Alusi was elected to Parliament in 2005 following the murder of …

My Question for John McCain: What About Iraqi Liberals?

At last weekend’s Foreign Policy Initiative conference in Washington D.C.: I asked Senator John McCain a two-part question. First, I asked if he was concerned about corruption in Iraq’s government.

Second, I asked him if he was aware of any efforts on the part of America to support Iraqi liberal politicians - or those who champion …

John McCain on Sunday: We should Do More to Help the People of Iran

Senator John McCain forcefully criticized President Barack Obama’s governance at this year’s forum of the Foreign Policy Initiative, a Washington-based think tank.

McCain, appearing at Sunday’s forum, specifically criticized actions of the President related to Afghanistan and Iran.

I attended the forum and asked a two-part question of the Senator: whether his concerns about corruption in the …

George W. Bush: “I’m Optimistic Democracy Will Prevail” and “I Harbor No Resentment Toward the Media”

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Bill O’Reilly interviewed former President George W. Bush today to coincide with the release of “Decision Points,” Bush’s memoir of his years in office. Most interesting were Bush’s comments about Iraq and Afghanistan - and about the media.

O’Reilly asked Bush about the decision to invade Iraq, and whether he had regrets, given …

Ex-Iraqi MP urges U.S. to Form Moderate Arab-Israeli Alliance

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From The Jerusalem Post
by HEATHER ROBINSON

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Partnership based on economic interest could give US greater leverage against Iran, says Mithal al-Alusi, whose sons were murdered after he came to Israel in ’04.

Oil and water don’t usually mix. But one native son of the Middle East …

Alusi: Normal Muslims Say, “Why are You Leaving Us in the Hands of the Iranians?”

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Interesting piece in today’s New York Post about how Sunni sheiks and others in Iraq and Afghanistan are switching sides for fear that the U.S. will abandon them as President Obama draws down troops.

This state of affairs echoes what I’ve heard consistently from my main source in Iraq, former Parliamentarian Mithal …