The Price of Greatness is Responsibility

US President Joe Biden during his visit in Israel, October 18, 2023. Photo credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein.

Usually, history’s turning points are invisible to the living.  Forks in the road are spotted by historians only long after events and their immediate repercussions have faded. But sometimes history visibly shifts for its participants onto a new course. We are now living through one of those turning points in history.  2023 was the year that […]

Reader’s Response: Russia is a Marginal Player in the Gaza War

Photos credit: Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS, Mohammed Talatene/dpa via Reuters Connect.

The article by Stephen Blank of October 25, “Russia’s Role in the Gaza War,” provides much good evidence of Russia’s initial efforts to capitalize on the war for its own purposes. But that article may have overestimated the extent of Russian involvement in and influence over Hamas, Hizbullah and indeed over Iran. The Kremlin aspires […]

Defending the Basic Values of Humanity After October 7

Hadas Kalderon, whose family members were killed and kidnapped on October 7, in the burned-out remains of her mother’s home, Kibbutz Nir Oz, October 30, 2023. Photo credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein.

In Europe, we have fancied ourselves to be living in a postmodern world. But after the totalitarian assault by Russia against Ukraine and this month’s terrorist attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians, this dispassion is a luxury we can no longer afford.

Russia’s Role in the Gaza War

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photos credit: Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS, Mohammed Talatene/dpa via Reuters Connect

Several media outlets have speculated about Moscow’s involvement in Hamas’ most recent aggression against Israel. Certainly, this war may have the effect, whether intended or not, of benefitting Moscow by diverting Western attention and support from Ukraine. But there is some evidence, presented below, of Moscow’s intention to exploit and benefit from the war so as to […]

Russian Policy and Hamas’ Assault: Putin Benefits From Chaos

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo credit: Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS

If there is a winner emerging from the October 7 terrorist attack and subsequent war in Gaza, it is Vladimir Putin. On October 8, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is interested in starting a war in the Middle East to “undermine world unity.” Russia may not need to start a full-blown war, but Zelensky understands that the current escalation in […]

Looking Beyond the War: Planning for Ukraine’s Reconstruction

Destruction in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, following Russian attacks. Photo credit: Kyodo via Reuters Connect

The outcome of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the provisions of a final settlement are as yet unknown. Ukraine may prevail in pushing Russia back to the 1991 borders, as President Zelenskyy intends. The conflict might result in a settlement with a divided Ukraine, both countries exhausted from the effort. It could grind on for years […]

Recent African Coups: <br>End of <i>Françafrique</i>, Need for US Leadership

Nigeriens gather in the capital Niamey one month after the coup of July 28, to demand that the French ambassador leave. Photo credit: REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou

Since 2020, six African countries have experienced a total of eight coups d’état. With the exception of Gabon, all occurred in the Sahel, the semi-arid band stretching across the continent between the Sahara Desert to the north and the tropical savannah to the south. The conventional narrative of “Africa Rising,” which had only recently replaced […]

What’s Next for Russia?

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo credit: Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERS

The war in Ukraine was supposed to be over in just a few days, according to US intelligence sources. One and a half years later, both sides are preparing to continue fighting in the months to come. The war is taking an incredible toll on Ukraine. Its men and women are fighting instead of working […]

India’s Security Policy: Balancing Its Russia Dilemma with New Partnerships

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 2019. Photo credit: REUTERS

Introduction: Recurring Pakistani And Growing Chinese Challenges   India faces disputed boundaries and territorial claims with both Pakistan and China. Though the direct threat from Pakistan has become less salient, the boundary dispute with China remains a massive problem. Furthermore at a time when the US and China are locked in a global competition, China’s assertiveness […]