It Doesn’t Matter If Iran is a Rational Actor

“”With the loss of Saudi Arabia as a viable partner in blocking the spread of Iranian power, the Trump Administration would be forced to revisit the oft-repeated notion that Iran is a rational actor. President Trump would have to renege on his campaign promise of ending the terrible Obama era Iran deal. He would have to reverse course and effectively reinstitute the Obama deal with Iran, in order to gain new leverage over Tehran. In other words, Trump would have to surrender the Middle East to Iran, selling out Israel in the process, just as Barack Obama did.”

Is the U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal the End of Syria As We Know It?

Erik Khzmalyan writes, “In the end, it is the proxy countries that pay the price for the mistakes made by external powers. In this case, we might see Syria disappear from the world map in a century that so hopelessly claimed that geopolitics is a thing of the past.”

Iraq: A War in Three Acts

As the 14th anniversary of the Iraq War passes us by, I reflect on the geopolitical implications of the ill-fated war over at American Greatness.

The Enemy of My Enemy Is Not Always My Friend and Regime Types Matter

The old adage, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” should not be the basis of foreign policy. What’s more, not all autocracies are created equally. Read more to find out why

VLOG: The Iranian Role In Syria

My newest Video Blog addresses why Iran is involved in supporting the Assad Regime in the ongoing Syrian Civil War and how Iran stands to benefit from their support of Assad. We also touch on Russia’s involvement here as well. The drink tonight was an aged Yamakazi single malt Japanese whisky.

Saving South Sudan: Taking a Pre-Failed State Toward Successful Statehood

South Sudan is the world’s youngest country. It was created after having fought a brutal war against Omar al-Bashir’s Islamist government of Sudan. President George W. Bush, more than any foreign leader, is the man most responsible for midwifing the birth of South Sudan. Now, South Sudan has become consumed by tribal civil war and is what many experts refer to as the world’s “first Pre-Failed State.” This article advocates for the cantonization of South Sudan to save the 3 year-old country.

The Islamic State Strikes Germany; European Officials Slow to Respond

On July 19 a Hong Kong family was traveling on a train in southern Germany when they were attacked by a 17 year-old Afghan (of Pashtun origin) wielding an axe, intent on killing them in the name of the Islamic State.