Israeli President Shimon Peres says he believes President-elect Barack Obama may be able to unite the international community and force Iran to the negotiating table. However he also indicated that any talks with Iran would have to be predicated on them meeting...
Pakistan’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Deal on US Air Strikes
Pakistan's loud complaints about the regular US air strikes in its tribal areas have had so little effect on American policy that it has been speculated that there must be a "secret understanding" between the two. Pakistan's government denied this earlier in the...
Iraqi Cabinet Okays US Pact
The Iraqi cabinet has approved the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States, in a vote that was surprisingly one-sided. 27 of 28 cabinet members voted in favor of the agreement, and the deal will now be sent to parliament for consideration. The vote...
Russia Threatens to Pull Out of Arms Treaty Over NATO Expansion
A senior Russian military diplomat is quoted as saying that if NATO grants Membership Action Plans to Georgia and Ukraine, the Russian government will ultimately pull out of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. The CFE is a treaty first put in place in the...
US Officials Say Working With Pakistani Military on Afghan Border Operation
Senior American officials are reporting that the several month long Pakistani offensive in Bajaur is part of a broader military campaign which includes US strikes in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, which they are calling Operation Lionheart. There had been no previous...
Key Shi’ite Clerics Resist Security Pact Draft
While Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's support for the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States is likely to secure support from key Shi'ite political leaders for the latest draft, they face continued dissent from key Shi'ite religious leaders,...
Report: Maliki Will Endorse US Security Pact
Updated 11/15 11:30 AM EST With Iraq's cabinet preparing to discuss the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States, and a vote expected sometime this weekend, the latest and seemingly final draft of the controversial deal is expected to receive a shot in...
Obama Warned of ‘Spectacular’ al-Qaeda Attack During Transition
There may be no concrete evidence of a specific plot in the offing, but political leaders and intelligence officials in both the US and Britain are warning President-elect Barack Obama that his fledgling administration may be an appealing target for a 'spectacular'...
US Drone Attack Kills At Least 12 in North Waziristan
US drones fired three missiles at the house of a tribesman in a village along the border between North and South Waziristan Agencies, killing at least 12 and injuring an unknown number of others. An official from Pakistan's parliament said five of those killed were...
Experts Warn Obama Threats Won’t Work on Iran
In a report which will be presented next week to a conference on the future of US-Iran policy, the Associated Press is reporting that experts will caution President-elect Barack Obama that adding more threats against Iran will not help resolve disputes between the two...