What do election observers do?

12 years ago

I am in Egypt as an election observer for the constitutional referendum.  The Egyptians are calling our role mutaaba', or witness,…

Peace picks, January 13-17

12 years ago

A bit late, but as good as ever: 1. Battlefield Earth: Reassessing U.S. Responses to Terrorist Threats Monday, January 13…

Preparing to observe a referendum

12 years ago

I'm in Egypt, preparing to observe the January 14/15 constitutional referendum.  This is more controversial than it sounds.  Some have…

Kosovo praying for democracy

12 years ago

Artan Haraqija, who did his master's degree at Westminister University, sent his minidocumentary in response to my publication last week…

Inside Iran

12 years ago

Two experienced Iran hands debriefed recent trips there Thursday:  David Ignatius of the Washington Post and Robin Wright, a joint…

Religious radicalism threatens Kosovo

12 years ago

The Pristina daily Zëri has kindly given permission for republication in English of this interview with Petrit Selimi, Deputy Foreign…

What else we can do

12 years ago

The UN-led Syria peace talks known as Geneva 2 are scheduled to convene in Montreux January 22 for a public…

The Geneva 2 Rohrschach

12 years ago

I spent yesterday listening to well-informed people talk (Las Vegas rules) about prospects for the January 22/23 Montreux/Geneva 2 peace…

The problem with Maliki

12 years ago

Former Ambassador to Iraq Jim Jeffrey argues in this morning's Washington Post for more wholehearted support to Iraqi Prime Minister…

History is irreversible

12 years ago

Yesterday's New York Times suggests "Power Vacuum in Middle East Lifts Militants."  US withdrawal is of course the cause of…