Professor of Political Science, University of Southern California
Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern California, where he teaches a course on "Terrorism and Genocide," and author of many books including Islam in Revolution: Fundamentalism in the Arab World
Is It Time to Change Course in Iraq after All? It's been another bloody day in Iraq with at least 24 civilians killed in a suicide bombing in Mosul; 73 Americans have been killed already this month, which is on the way to becoming the worst month for US casualties in more than two years. US commanders said today that violence in Baghdad has increased since 12,000 joint US-Iraqi troops were deployed in August and that Operation Together Forward will have to be revised. Increasing numbers of Republicans say it's time for a change. We get an update from Baghdad on increased violence and US impatience with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and hear from Iraq's Ambassador to the UN about his government's plans to disarm sectarian militias and stop the death squads. Should Syria and Iran be asked to help restore order? Is it time for a phased withdrawal?
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.
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
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.