Section: Foreign Policy (USA)
The lessons of Debaltseve: Armored vehicles still matter, but they need to be mobile, lethal and survivable
By Brian Drohan and Andy Forney Best Defense guest columnists After nearly fifteen years of counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan, American advocates of heavy armored forces interpreted Ukrainian forces’ defeat at the battle of Debaltseve as an indication that “tanks still matter.” But the key lesson of the Debaltseve fight is a broader...
FP’s Situation Report: U.S. eyes turn to the U.N. for Middle East peace push; Is the Iran deal good for Washington and Jerusalem?; Tourist massacre in Tunisia; and much more from around the world.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat Netanyahu’s victory might force Washington to change course at the U.N. In an election countdown turnabout, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the creation of a Palestinian state, abandoning his years-long support for a two-state peace deal. Now, President Barack Obama is eyeing a reversal...
Snap Poll: Is the Iran Deal Good for Your Country’s National Security?
Political pundits and think-tank analysts weren’t the only ones weighing the pros and cons of a nuclear deal with Iran or feeling concerned with how that deal might tip the balance in the Middle East. This latest Snap Poll of international relations (IR) scholars, conducted by the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) project...
Russian Duma Dissident Believes West Must Save Ukraine to Defeat Putin
One year ago, on Mar.18 2014, President Vladimir Putin announced that he would annex Crimea. Two days later, the issue was brought before the Duma. The vote was overwhelmingly in support of Putin’s plan, a resounding 445 to 1. The lone vote against belonged to Ilya Ponomarev. With the conflict in Ukraine showing little sign of coming to a...
Monitoring Group Looks to Publish Photographs of Cease-Fire Violations in Ukraine
In a conflict replete with propaganda from competing sides, a picture can say a thousand words. And finally, those pictures may become available to the general public. On Tuesday, the head of the international organization monitoring the war in Ukraine said he hopes to publish photographs of cease-fire violations using sophisticated imagery...
FP’s Situation Report: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wins; Republicans boost DoD’s budget; A U.S. drone is missing in Syria; Tone changes on guns in Ukraine, and much more from around the world.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surges to victory. The pollsters predicting a close race were wrong as Bibi sails to a win. His reelection could further complicate relations with Washington. FP’s David Kenner: “On the eve of the election, the prime minister promised that a Palestinian state...
Monitoring Group Looks to Publish Photographs of Ceasefire Violations in Ukraine
In a conflict replete with propaganda from competing sides, a picture can say a thousand words. And finally, those pictures may become available to the general public. On Tuesday, the head of the international organization that monitors the war in Ukraine said he hopes to publish photographs of ceasefire violations using sophisticated imagery...
Top U.S. General in Europe: Arming Ukraine ‘Isn’t a Strategy’
The top U.S. Army commander in Europe questioned whether Washington should provide weaponry to Ukraine to help in its fight against Russian-backed separatists, a proposal gaining increasing support among American officials alarmed by the rebels’ ongoing gains in eastern Ukraine. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges conceded to reporters Tuesday that arming...
FP’s Situation Report: U.S. losing clout in Baghdad; Tikrit fight at a stalemate; Could U.S.-Israeli ties get a reboot?; and much more from around the world.
By David Francis with Sabine Muscat The United States is in danger of losing its clout in Baghdad. Courage on the battlefield is how respect is won in the Middle East. The lack of U.S. presence in the fight for Tikrit is allowing Iran, whose forces are leading the charge, to gain leverage in Baghdad. FP’s Lara Jakes and Kate Brannen: “It is...
A Showdown in Moscow’s Power Elite
The news that Russia’s most powerful law enforcement agencies have decided to target people linked to one of Russia’s most powerful politicians has been dominating the talk in Moscow lately. Last week officials announced that they had arrested five suspects in the killing of Boris Nemtsov, the opposition leader who was gunned down...
