All Backchannels
- Radio interview on Syria
Dubious Afghan airline Kam Air circles back into US orbitKam Air, accused by a US general of bulk opium smuggling, was exonerated by Afghan investigators. Now it has a green light to bid for US government contracts.聽
Booz Allen, Snowden's old firm, looking to help US government with 'insider threats'Are defense and intelligence contractors the best choice to manage a threat they've contributed to?
Syria 'smoking gun' report warrants a careful readThe report by former war crimes prosectors alleges the Syrian regime has tortured 11,000 prisoners. The claim is credible, but don't forget the agenda.
What does Egypt's 'yes' vote in the constitutional referendum mean?The majority of voters approved the new Egyptian Constitution, but turnout was low and it's not likely to solve many of Egypt's pressing problems.
Joe McCarthy, Glenn Greenwald, and meThe charge of having unsound views on Edward Snowden.
Egypt's constitutional referendum: It's not about democracy any more.Egypt's constitutional referendum, which wraps up today, is taking the country further away from democracy. Many Egyptians seem just fine with that.
Israeli defense minister slams John Kerry for 'messianic' pursuit of peace dealMoshe Yaalon peels back the curtain.聽
How inept is Afghanistan's government?Stunningly so.聽
More wishful thinking on SyriaPeace talks to end Syria's civil war promise to be at least as irrelevant as previous editions.
The myth of Iraq's squandered stabilityThe finger-pointing in the US over who "lost" Iraq ignores an important reality: It was never won.
What's really going on in Iraq's Anbar Province?It's not the Al Qaeda resurgence, Sunni-Shiite fault line narrative you've been hearing.
Iraq: politics could be the solution, not the problemThe chaos in Iraq is largely a function of domestic political decisions. That means the democratic process can still work in Iraq's favor.聽
In Egypt, the 'revolution' is eating its youngThree leaders of a group that played a key role in organizing protests that drove Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011 have been jailed. Their crime? Protesting.
Iraq violence more than doubles in 2013: is country headed off the cliff?At least 7,500 civilians have died in Iraq this year, the death toll surging because of the war in Syria and the failure of Sunni-Shiite reconciliation.
The latest sign that the US is losing Saudi Arabia over SyriaBut is that a problem?
Levinson, Iran, the CIA, and liesThe US government has been lying for years about Robert Levinson, a man kidnapped in Iran after being sent there as part of a rogue CIA operation. Some media have been playing along.
Obama's Syria policy is pretty much dead, and there are few good optionsThe Free Syrian Army, the US hope for 'good' rebels to prevail in Syria, is in disarray. The chances for a negotiated settlement to Syria's brutal civil war just got dimmer.
Afghans are living longer? Yes, but not thanks to NATOThe claim that Western intervention in Afghanistan has dramatically improved life expectancy is a surprisingly durable myth.
Afghanistan pushes to stone adulterers? You shouldn't be surprised.Triumphant coalition statements about how much Afghanistan has changed should be treated with skepticism.聽
