Search Results for: alastair

The Geo-Political Poker Game: Where’s the ‘Off-Ramp’? by Alastair Crooke

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Pat Lang

  At the beating heart of Trump’s Presidency lies the notion of the Art of the Deal.  It is said that Trump has few convictions, but his notion of how to negotiate – with a big stick, maximum leverage, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alastair Crooke, As The Borg Turns, Current Affairs, Russiagate | 34 Comments

Will the War Clouds Pass Us By, Or Will the Storm Break? by Alastair Crooke

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Pat Lang

     The compulsive hatred of President Putin in élite western circles has surpassed anything witnessed during the Cold War.  Western states have been hyping political hostility in almost every sphere: In Syria, in Ukraine, across the Middle East, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alastair Crooke, Korea | 54 Comments

” Trump’s Saudi Scheme Unravels” – Alastair Crooke

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Pat Lang

  "And, maybe MbS and Kushner thought Netanyahu spoke for Israel when he promised to be a partner in the front against Hezbollah and Iran? Was it the “grand plan” that was affirmed between Netanyahu and Trump on the day … Continue reading →

Posted in Alastair Crooke, As The Borg Turns, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Russia, Saudi Arabia | 44 Comments

A Syrian Cordon Sanitaire: Is Israel huffing & puffing, or is it serious ? Alastair Crooke

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Pat Lang

    Israel has backtracked on the Amman ‘ceasefire’ agreement negotiated by the US, Russia and Jordan. The latter established the outline for a de-escalation zone in south-west Syria. From the outset, this accord was all about Israel, and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Alastair Crooke, As The Borg Turns, Israel, Middle East, Policy | 23 Comments

Trump Changes Gear: Strategic Syria policy now lies with Tillerson and Lavrov by Alastair Crooke, 12 May 2017

Posted on May 13, 2017 by Pat Lang

  No, we are not referring to James Comey’s dismissal (though this too, does reflect a change of mode).  Perhaps we should have paid closer attention to Roger Stone, a long-time friend of the President, and his erstwhile campaign manager, … Continue reading →

Posted in Borg Wars, Current Affairs, Russia, Syria | 26 Comments

The Great Game of Radical Narrative Change (and its Drawbacks) by Alastair Crooke

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Pat Lang

 It is clearer now: Trump seeks radical ‘narrative metamorphosis’. No more shall America be perceived as ‘weak'. America shall be ‘strong'. US rhetoric against North Korea, Russia and Iran, again is larded with ultimata – and is stridently bellicose. Plainly, the US rhetoric, per se, … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Borg Wars, Policy, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen | 20 Comments

“Military experts believe Iranian-made drones set off from Yemen to strike Aramco” ra’i al yowm

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Pat Lang

I was provided this translation by Alastair Crooke's  "The Raw and the Cooked" on line magazine published from Crooke's location in Beirut.  This a very fine subscription service and I recommend it highly.   exchange@conflictsforum.com  is their contact e-mail address.  pl  … Continue reading →

Posted in Alastair Crooke, Iran, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Yemen | 39 Comments

Habakkuk on the dossier’s beginings

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Pat Lang

My strong impression is that nobody on the British side vetted the dossier for publication. A striking feature of the early news coverage is that there appeared to be total confusion, with some of the reporting suggesting that the sources … Continue reading →

Posted in Habakkuk, Intelligence | Comments Off on Habakkuk on the dossier’s beginings

The West and Ukraine − and the wars within (FB Ali)

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Pat Lang

Poor Professor Petro! A professor of politics at the University of Rhode Island, he was selected by the US State Department as a Fulbright Research Scholar in 2013 and went to Ukraine on a year's affiliation with a university in … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil, Policy, Russia | 125 Comments