Center for Strategic and International Studies
Senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security at Geostrategy, and Director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; former member of the Policy Planning Staff at the State Department, and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
The "Summit" that Won’t Be a Summit after All President Obama called the first ever summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council for this week at Camp David. Last Friday, the White House said the new King of Saudi Arabia would be there, but it turns out, he won't — and other leaders have also declined the invitation. Does the new King of Saudi Arabia really have better things to do than meet the President of the US at Camp David or is Barack Obama being snubbed? That's just one of the questions about this week's meeting with Arab Gulf-state leaders, who want guaranteed US protections against Iran, their Middle-East rival. It's not just the nuclear deal they're worried about, but also the lifting of sanctions restraining Iran's economic power. In the meantime, there's a "feeding frenzy" for conventional weapons — made in the USA.
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv under Fire, Israel Threatens Ground Attack on Gaza Jerusalem is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, and it's been thought immune to attacks from any of the players in the troubled Middle East. But today, rocket attacks, presumably from the Gaza Strip, fell close enough to trigger air raids and panic in the holy city. Israel says it's prepared for a ground invasion. We hear updates from Jerusalem and Gaza City.
Is the US Headed Toward Another War? After the UN Security Council authorized " all necessary measures " to protect citizens in Libya, Colonel Moammar Gadhafi declared a cease-fire. While President Obama voiced agreement with European and Arab allies that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately, he vowed that the US will not "deploy ground troops into Libya."
Egyptians Firm on Regime Change, US Pushes Slower Approach Just before yesterday's Super Bowl game, President Obama gave Fox News his latest assessment of events in Egypt. In parts of Cairo today, banks opened and shops were staffed. The Egyptian government wants business as usual, but protesters in Cairo aren't giving an inch and they're considering demonstrations in other cities. Vice President Suleiman met yesterday with a group including the Muslim Brotherhood, and each side has a different version of what really went on. Protest leaders are particularly skeptical about Washington's call for an " orderly transition ," saying it sounds like a recipe for continued repression. We get an update from Tahrir Square, hear different estimates of possible outcomes and discuss why Egypt is so important to American interests.
President Obama at the UN President Obama told the UN today that "misperceptions" have led to what he called "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism," which he said, "too often has served as an excuse for…collective inaction." He said all nations must take "responsibility for a global response to global challenges…"
Obama Formally Addresses the 64th UN General Assembly In New York today the United Nations opened another session , and more than 120 national leaders heard President Obama's first address to the General Assembly. Obama told the UN that "misperceptions" have led to "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism," which he said, "too often has served as an excuse for…collective inaction." He said all nations must take "responsibility for a global response to global challenges." The President described his differences from the Bush Administration, and laid out "four pillars" of foreign policy. The leaders of Russia and China will also take center-stage, and crowds outside will protest Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. We hear what Obama said about Iran and North Korea, Middle East peace, and the responsibilities of all nations. We also hear how they're responding.
US and Israel Agree to Gaza Security Pact Ahead of Possible Ceasefire Israel’s cabinet will vote tomorrow on a unilateral cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Strikes Gaza for Third Day Israel's three days of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip is its most ferocious attack on Palestinians in decades, leaving some three hundred dead and more than six hundred wounded. Questions are being raised about whether Israel intends to launch a ground offensive as well. Israel is targeting Hamas strongholds to stop the Islamic Palestinian group from launching rockets into southern Israel. But the Gaza Strip is a tiny, densely crowded area, and civilians who live and work close to Hamas institutions have been caught in the fire. The International Red Cross has appealed that urgent humanitarian assistance be allowed to enter Gaza and tens of thousands of people have protested in the streets of Arab capitals. What role do upcoming parliamentary elections play in timing of Israel's military actions? How are Arab nations responding? What impact will the strikes have on the way President-elect Obama shapes his foreign policy agenda?
Israel Strikes Gaza for Third Day Israel's three days of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip is its most ferocious attack on Palestinians in decades, leaving some three hundred dead and more than six hundred wounded. Questions are being raised about whether Israel intends to launch a ground offensive as well. Israel is targeting Hamas strongholds to stop the Islamic Palestinian group from launching rockets into southern Israel. But the Gaza Strip is a tiny, densely crowded area, and civilians who live and work close to Hamas institutions have been caught in the fire. The International Red Cross has appealed that urgent humanitarian assistance be allowed to enter Gaza and tens of thousands of people have protested in the streets of Arab capitals. What role do upcoming parliamentary elections play in timing of Israel's military actions? How are Arab nations responding? What impact will the strikes have on the way President-elect Obama shapes his foreign policy agenda?
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?