Geopolitical Journey:Iran at a Crossroads

By Kamran Bokhari Geopolitically, a trip to Iran could not come at a better time. Iran is an emerging power seeking to exploit the vacuum created by the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq, which is scheduled to conclude in a little more than three months. Tehran also plays a major role along its eastern border, where Washington is seeking a political settlement with the Taliban to facilitate...

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Arab Spring Leading to Israel’s Fall?

Article by  Richard Palmer The so-called Arab Spring claimed its first Israeli casualties on August 18. A “terror squad” coordinated attacks on two buses and two cars, as well as Israeli troops, killing eight and wounding 40. As Israel tried to deal with terrorist bases in Gaza, Islamists fired over 100 rockets, killing 15 and wounding nearly 70. This is just the beginning. The attacks have made Egypt more supportive of Hamas. Meanwhile, in response to the Arab Spring,...

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Putin For President

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has backed PM Vladimir Putin to succeed him next year, ending speculation over which man would run for the post. Mr Medvedev made the announcement at the annual congress of the United Russia party, which Mr Putin leads. The party dominates Russian politics and observers say Mr Putin's return to the Kremlin is now all but guaranteed. He had already served two terms as president before Mr Medvedev took over in 2008. Earlier,...

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US Deficit Deal

US President Barack Obama says Republican and Democratic leaders have reached an agreement on raising the US debt limit and avoiding default. He said the deal would cut $1tn of spending over 10 years, and set up a committee to report by November on a proposal to further reduce the deficit. But Congress still has to approve the deal, and with votes in both houses expected on Monday. The parties face a Tuesday deadline to raise the $14.3tn (£8.7tn) debt...

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Syrian Unrest

Syrian security forces have cracked down on anti-government protests across the country, killing 100 people in the city of Hama alone, reports say. Witnesses said tanks moved into Hama at dawn, shelling civilians. Other towns also erupted in violence in one of the bloodiest days since protests began.The government said troops had been sent in to Hama to remove barricades erected by the protesters.  US officials accused the government of waging "full-on warfare" on its people.The...

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An Earthshaking New Alliance

By Richard Palmer Russia’s navy is about to get more dangerous. On June 17 Russia agreed to buy two of the most advanced amphibious assault ships in the world. With one of these, the Black Sea fleet would have been able to complete its part in the 2008 invasion of Georgia in “40 minutes, not 26 hours,” said Russian naval commander Vladimir Vysotsky. Each ship can carry 16 helicopters,...

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Report: ‘U.S. paying salaries for jailed Palestinian terrorists’

Original article on  www.thetrumpet.com More than $5 million each month is spent by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to pay salaries of terrorists in Israeli prisons, according to a Palestinian Media Watch report presented to U.S. congressmen on Tuesday. According to the media watchdog’s report, the money transfers contravene U.S. law, which prohibits the funding of anyone who “engages in, or has engaged in terrorist activity.”  “The U.S. funds the PA’s general budget,”...

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