Category Archives: Middle East

US and UK striking Houthi targets in Yemen to retaliate for spate of attacks

By Eleanor Watson | Updated on: January 11, 2024 / 7:53 PM EST / CBS News The U.S. and U.K. carried out strikes on targets in Yemen to retaliate for Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, President Biden announced in … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, TTG, Yemen | 234 Comments

Why Xiangshan Forum could be ‘useful opportunity’ for US-China military ties

Beijing is expected to restart military communication with Washington when it hosts a security forum from Sunday, but analysts say issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea will make it challenging. The three-day Xiangshan Forum – seen as Beijing’s … Continue reading

Posted in China, Middle East, TTG | 47 Comments

“Sacrifice, the future has its price”

A question in many minds is what the hell did Hamas expect to accomplish with the  execution of al-Aqsa Flood? Why go far beyond a successful and shocking military raid to widespread commissions of atrocities upon innocents? Is Hamas no … Continue reading

Posted in History, Israel, Middle East, TTG | 122 Comments

“A massive new US embassy in a tiny Middle East nation is raising eyebrows”

CNN  — A massive new US embassy complex in Lebanon is causing controversy for its sheer size and opulence in a country where nearly 80% of the population is under the poverty line. Located some 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) from … Continue reading

Posted in Lebanon, Middle East, TTG | 27 Comments

“Syria’s Kurds make their own pitch as Arab states court Assad”

Syrian Kurds, whom Bashar al-Assad once labeled “traitors” and “collaborators,” now seek a new peace with the Syrian government. As Arab governments and Turkey seek to mend fences with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the country’s Kurds have unveiled a new … Continue reading

Posted in Middle East, Syria, TTG | 29 Comments

HARPER: WHEN A FIST BUMP DOESN’T DO THE TRICK

Well, President Joe Biden has just gotten another kick in the teeth from our loyal friends in Saudi Arabia. This week a group within the OPEC+ revived petroleum cartel announced that they would be cutting production quotas by over 1.1 … Continue reading

Posted in China, Middle East, Oil, Russia, Ukraine Crisis | 34 Comments

“Bradleys, Self-Propelled Howitzers Head to Ukraine …”

” … the package includes 50 Bradley fighting vehicles, 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, 18 self-propelled howitzers, missiles, munitions and more.  U.S. President Joe Biden previewed the announcement Thursday during remarks at a White House cabinet meeting.  “We’re going to provide the … Continue reading

Posted in France, Germany, Middle East, Russia, Syria, The Military Art, Ukraine Crisis, weapons | 12 Comments

Saudi Arabia – a family holding company, not a friend. Republished 13 October 2022

  I speak fluent Arabic.  I was the first professor of the Arabic Language and Middle East Studies at West Point where I was twice judged best classroom teacher and was offered permanent tenure which I declined not wishing to … Continue reading

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Israel, Middle East, Policy, Saudi Arabia | 73 Comments

Saudi Arabia is not our friend (nor anyone else’s) Get it? – Republished 13 October, 2022

“Foreign affairs experts gave President Joe Biden’s first Middle East trip a failing grade, charging that Biden was unable to accomplish any of his three primary goals: resetting ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, lowering gas prices by securing … Continue reading

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Current Affairs, Iran, Middle East, Religion, Saudi Arabia | 28 Comments

“Biden’s Israel, Saudi Arabia Trips Postponed Until July”

“President Joe Biden’s trips to Saudi Arabia and Israel that had been planned for later this month have been postponed until at least July, but dates have not yet been confirmed, according to administration officials. “We are working on a trip to … Continue reading

Posted in As The Borg Turns, government, History, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, The economy | 25 Comments