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Category Archives: United Nations
Coercive Disarmament in Iran: 1991 Iraq Model
The conflict with Iran will end with at least two elements: One will be some sort of political agreement to cease hostilities. Second will be an intrusive weapons inspection mechanism to account for the Iran nuclear program (and possibly other WMD … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Chemical Weapons, Iran, Iraq, nuclear weapons, United Nations
Tagged Iran Nuclear, Iran Nuclear Agreement, Iraq, WMD
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Venezuela: What Trump Learned from Iraq
From the description by President Trump and his top advisors, it’s clear that they have learned from mistakes the US made with Saddam in Iraq. Trump’s bold move in Venezuela may suffer from other challenges, but at least they won’t repeat … Continue reading
A Houthi State on Bab al-Mandab?
Can the UN Security Council accept a settlement of the Yemen conflict which does not mandate adherence to Freedom of Navigation? It appears the Houthi leadership in Sana’a aspires to be to the Bab al-Mandab, as Egypt is to the … Continue reading
Things to Consider: Iraq War at 20
Everyone (and their dog) is writing/commenting about the Iraq war 20 years later. I doubt more accuracy is achieved in these tales after 20 years. Everyone seems to think they were central to events. Some of them were.[1] My perspective was also partial, … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Chemical Weapons, Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Sunni, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, Iraq War, Saddam Hussein, United Nations, WMD
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Unavoidable Elements of the Ukraine Crisis
Western policy to prevent further Russian aggression in Ukraine is hobbled by a few inescapable problems. The government in Ukraine is weak from the top down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is no Vladimir Putin. While they both stand about 5 … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, Ukraine, United Nations
Tagged Lavrov, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, Zelensky
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The Most Hyperbole In the History of the Galaxy, Or, Does Democracy in America Really Hang by a Thread?
The recurrent statements following the chaos of January 6, were nothing, if not cataclysmic, i.e. “democracy hangs by a thread!” Unfortunately, foreign friends and allies tend to watch events in Washington via television like everyone else. On multiple occasions conversations … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Elections, journalism coverage, NATO, Russia, Uncategorized, United Nations
Tagged Reporting Hyperbole
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Impeachment and Foreign Policy Redux
In February 1998, I was in Baghdad discussing the ongoing disputes between Iraq and the UN weapons inspectors with Saddam’s key deputy Tariq Aziz. (I was the deputy chairman of the UN WMD inspection group called UNSCOM.) It was late … Continue reading
Posted in Iran, Iraq, United Nations, WMD
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Syrian CW Use – Why? There’s a good reason
Many have wondered why Syrian would continue to use chemical munitions recognizing that the international community would condemn such actions. After all, they received some measure of positive recognition when acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 and allowed … Continue reading
Posted in Russia, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
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Syria CW Use – Why?
The headline news of Syrian use of Sarin last month has faded from memory. Even the US strike against the Syrian base at Khan Sheikhoun seems to have sunk beneath the daily harangue of Trump news. The military strike seems … Continue reading
Posted in ISIS Chemical Weapons, Russia, Syria, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
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Syria Strike – Before and After – Watch for Russian Action in Ukraine
Putin will respond to action as would be expected. It is a safe bet that Russia will amp up pressure in other areas such as Ukraine. Secretary of State Tillerson, who, with General McMaster put forward a strong case for … Continue reading
Posted in Russia, Syria, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
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