Professor of Political Science at Bennington College
Professor of Political Science at Bennington College in Vermont and member of the advisory board of Middle East Watch, a branch of Human Rights Watch; co-author of The US Press and Iran: Foreign Policy and the Journalism of Deference and author of US Imperialism: The Spanish American War to the Iranian Revolution; Iran's first ambassador to the United Nations (1979-1980);
Iran's Nuclear Development and the Prospects for War The US wants a new resolution from the UN Security Council to increase sanctions against Iran for its continued enrichment of nuclear fuel. In Washington today, officials from France, the UK, Russia, China and Germany are meeting with Nicholas Burns, a top State Department aide. President Bush has threatened "financial isolation and/or economic sanctions" if diplomacy doesn't work. But he's also said that, "Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere" and, "we will confront this danger before it's too late." We look at the pros, cons and possibilities of military action—by choice or by accident.
Freed Sailors Arrive in London amid Many Questions After a week and a half of what looked like comfortable captivity in Iran, fifteen British marines and sailors are back with their families as the rest of the world looks at the aftermath of a potentially dangerous episode. Iran and the European Union already have resumed discussions on Iran's nuclear program, so communications channels are still open. What about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Tony Blair? Was the prisoner release a "gift" from Iran or dramatic damage control? Despite Britain’s denials, was there a deal? We’ll hear how perceptions differ from the Middle East to the Western World.
Another Growing Crisis in the Middle East Iran has released a videotape and three letters purporting to be from Faye Turney, the lone woman among fifteen British captives, apologizing for crossing into Iran's territorial waters. Today, a second detainee, Nathan Thomas Summers, is shown on video, once again with an apology. Tony Blair calls Iran's actions disgusting violations of international law that will isolate Iran from the rest of the world. At the same time, both Iran and the US are conducting naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf--the US with two aircraft carriers and dozens of other ships. What are the prospects for resolution or escalation as neither side shows any sign of backing down? Today's confrontation is a current affair, but there are centuries of history behind it. What's the history of British and American relations with oil-rich Iran?
Violence and Diplomacy in the Middle East With sectarian violence in Iraq reaching a new scale of brutality, there are multiple warnings that the entire Middle East region may be coming apart. President Bush and Vice President Cheney are engaged in a week of crisis diplomacy aimed at saving Iraq's civilian government. While Cheney has returned from Saudi Arabia , President Bush has left Washington on a trip that will end in meetings with Iraq's Prime Minister al-Maliki. Meantime, Iraqi President Talabani is meeting with Iranian leaders, and Israel's Prime Minister Olmert is making peace offerings to the Palestinians. Both parties in Congress want pressure on the regime with the goal of promoting withdrawal of American troops. Will America's allies try to influence Sunni insurgents? Will the US talk with Iran about controlling Shiite militias? We'll ask a variety of experts, are there any good options left?
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?
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.