Why Is America So Bad at Promoting Democracy in Other Countries? There’s no quick, cheap, or military-based way to bring peace to places like Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iraq. It’s time we changed our approach, and we can start at home. Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy 25 April 2016   Photo credit: JOHN CANTLIE/Getty Images   If you’re a dedicated Wilsonian, the past quarter-century must have been pretty discouraging. Convinced liberal democracy

U.S. to Increase Military Presence in Syria, Obama Says MICHAEL D. SHEAR, The New York Times 25 April 2016     Image: In Germany, President Obama revealed that he will deploy an additional 250 American military personnel to operations in Syria. By REUTERS on  Publish Date April 25, 2016. Photo by Stephen Crowley/The New York Times. HANOVER, Germany — The United States will significantly increase the number of military personnel, including

Are the US and Russia helping or deceiving the Syrians? Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera  18 April 2016   Image: A girl shows a sniper bullet that was found in the school yard in the rebel-held city of Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria [EPA]   When American and Russian spokespersons deny the existence of a secret agreement between them over Syria, they’re not necessarily lying - but they are being misleading.  They don’t need

North Korea on Trump: His comments are ‘totally absurd and illogical’ Adam Taylor, The Washington Post 18 April 2016   Image: Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on April 17. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The rise of Donald Trump has generated remarkable global interest in the U.S. presidential campaign — and even the North Koreans are commenting on the proposals of

  Kerry to meet Iran foreign minister Tuesday on nuclear deal: official Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe 18 April 2016   Image: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks on trade at an event with the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles, April 12, 2016. REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York on Tuesday

U.S. to Send 200 More Troops, Apache Helicopters, to Iraq LOLITA C. BALDOR, ASSOCIATED PRESS  18 April 2016   Image: © AFP | US Us Army trainer with Iraqi troops in July 2015   The U.S. has agreed to deploy more than 200 additional troops to Iraq and to send Apache helicopters for the first time into the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq, the first major increase in U.S. forces in nearly a year, U.S. defense officials said

                                  Religion and Responsible American Engagement of the Middle East The Review of Faith & International Affairs By Chris Seiple    Image: The political cartoons included in this are selected as tools to teach about public policy issues. Their inclusion does not in any way constitute an endorsement by Teachers College, Columbia University, of their point of view. [International

Qatar Wants to Buy Dozens of U.S. Warplanes. Why Won’t Washington Sell Them? Dan De Luce, Foreign Policy 29 March 2016 Image: The White House can’t decide whether to sign off on a multibillion-dollar arms deal with the Persian Gulf kingdom, a sometime ally that has close ties to Islamist militants and Iran. The Obama administration is paralyzed over whether to sell dozens of advanced U.S. fighter jets to the tiny kingdom of Qatar, a Persian Gulf

Keep Sudan/Darfur a High Priority for Leadership and Action Join Bipartisan Letter to President Obama   Dear Colleague, We ask that you join us on sending the letter below to President Obama urging him to re-prioritize peace, accountability and protection of civilians in Sudan during his final year in office. The human rights and humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deteriorate. Rape, murder, the burning and looting of villages and mass

It's time that the US faced up to the 'G word' and finally recognised the Armenian genocide Robert Fisk, INDEPENDENT  26 March 2016   It’s not difficult to accuse the bad guys of genocide – Colin Powell had no problem over Darfur in 2004. We should stand up to the real bullies. Why won't US politicians talk about genocide every time it occurs? AP All week, the G-word has been rattling around the foreign ministries of the world. Ever