In a Congressional Research Service report published on 09/28/2009, If the current administration’s FY2010 war request is approved and enacted, Total war-related funding would reach $1.08 trillion since 2001, including $ 748 billion for Iraq, $ 300 billion for Afghanistan, $ 29 billion for enhanced security and $ 5 billion that cannot be allocated. This […]
Source AP At the World Report 2010 conference in Dubai on Sunday the Human Rights Watch unveiled its report regarding the top human rights violators of 2009, Iran was among the countries named as the worst offenders. The Human Rights Watch named a number of key developments in Iran over the past year that were […]
The newspaper business in the United States is widely regarded as terminally ill. Or, at the bare minimum, in need of major re-constructive surgery. That phenomenon isn’t limited to U.S. media. The major Israeli daily Maariv is seeking investors to fund the publication to keep it alive. Most Israelis read either Yediot Achronot (Ynet) or Maariv. Haaretz […]
The Palestinians are supposed to embark on an exercise of democratic reform today. But, it’s not going to happen. Last year, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced his intention of holding legislative and presidential elections today. However, Hamas (which one the 2006 elections and seized control of the Gaza Strip following obstruction by the PA) […]
Israel has agreed to compensate the UN for the damage caused to its schools and humanitarian centers by the Israeli military (IDF) during its operation in Gaza a year ago. The agreement when finalized will require Israel to make a payment of $ 10.5 Million to the United Nations.
During his Inauguration, President Barack Obama made his intentions well known to the outside world “To the Poor people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean water flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.” And to the adversaries in foreign audience he said […]
It read’s like a spy novel and plays out like an episode of 24. A new article from DEBKAfile outlines the fate of a secret stash of gossip compiled by former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Realizing the impact that closeted skeletons can play in international affairs, Arafat ordered aides to uncover secrets on international officials […]
The Israeli-Palestinian peace process is all-but stalled one year into the Obama Administration, exposing frustrations from all relevant parties, including high-ranking White House officials. And those officials include, yes, President Barack Obama himself who declared somewhat of a mea culpa regarding non-existent negotiations. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Obama expressed frustration on the […]
The Lebanese government recently issued a policy statement that declared Hizballah’s arms to be a legitimate part of the country’s defenses. In 2006, Hizballah managed to repel an attack from Israel, albeit one that the Party itself had incited. Still, many Lebanese view Israel as the biggest external threat to their safety and national security, […]
The Islamic Solidarity Games, which were to be held in Iran in April, have been called off because the countries could not agree on what to call the Persian Gulf. The Iranian organizers used the words “Persian Gulf” on the planned logo and medals, angering the Arab countries who call it Arabian Gulf. This debate […]
Both Israeli and Turkish diplomats probably have headaches from the year-long tiff between the two countries, which began shortly following Operation Cast Lead and reached an apex earlier this month with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials insulting -and subsequently apologizing to- Turkish officials. The upside- if you have vacation time from work, check Turkey out. Israeli tourism […]
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Petroleum announced today that the Pakistani-Iranian project for a gas pipeline is finalized. Iran is a major exporter of gas, including to China. Please see full story here.
The opposition group in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, has elected Mohammed Badie as its new secretary. The professor of veterinary pathology is seen as the right man to succeed Mohammed Akif. Mohammed Badie announced that he will continue working with the government for a peaceful political reform.
Sean Patrick Murphy, one of our own very bloggers here at FPA, looks at an acclaimed and Oscar-nominated Iranian movie “Children of Heaven”: http://globalfilm.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/01/19/children-of-heaven-1997/
The Israeli Defense Force has been lauded as having launched one of the only effective response efforts in Haiti. However, anti-Semites will never pass up the opportunity to throw a little blood libel in the mix. Last year, a highly controversial article was published in a Norwegian paper alleging that the IDF regularly harvests Palestinian […]