All Backchannels
US indicts China's PLA hackers: Productive, or desperate?The Obama administration, clearly frustrated at the extent of Chinese industrial espionage, has indicted five military officers for stealing trade secrets. Does this step make sense?
'Boko Haram' doesn't really mean 'Western education is a sin'Boko Haram gets lost in translation. Oh, and the word 'boko' isn't derived from the word 'book.'- Is US policy on Egypt shifting?Michele Dunne, a former administration official, argues that it may be.
The Sinai, terror, and the US response to EgyptIs it wise to let concern about terrorism trump all?
When it comes to Egypt, take note of American actions, not wordsSecretary of State John Kerry talks tough on mass death sentences in Egypt. But US actions signal a far different take on Egypt's authoritarian about-turn.聽
When Pollard comes up, it's a sign Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have derailedObama's push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is well into its second year. Actual progress so far? None. John Kerry is unlikely to change that.
Why Saudi frustration with Obama might be a good thingSaudi Arabia is unhappy that the US won't do its bidding over Syria, and that it didn't back Egypt's Hosni Mubarak during mass street protests against his rule. Should Obama care?
War, brotherhood, and the Ode to Joy in OdessaStorm clouds continue to gather over Ukraine. A moment of great beauty tries to hold back the tide.
Does Kerry still see stirrings of democracy in Egypt?After mass death sentences, and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's announcement he is running for president, the 'democratization' the US is hoping for seems a long way off.
What do we actually know about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?Not a lot. And probably less than you think.
Egypt's human rights situation is going from ugly to uglierAnd it's happening while the Obama administration is considering issuing a national security waiver to provide more weapons and cash to the country's military rulers.
Former NATO commander says US is getting Ukraine about rightAdm. James Stavridis added that serious financial sanctions on Russia should also be considered.
In Ukraine, being an oligarch is a bipartisan sportA Yanukovych ally, Dmitry Firtash, was arrested Thursday in Austria at the request of the US. But corrupt and powerful oligarchs can be found in all camps.
Russia's plans for Crimea were long in the makingAnd the US knew that Russia was laying the ground to make a move on the strategically useful peninsula. Doing something about it is another matter.
Listening to Edward Snowden at SXSWSnowden said his leaks have made the US safer.
The recidivism rate of former Guant谩namo prisoners is really low 鈥� and fallingGuant谩namo Bay continues to release a trickle of detainees 鈥� very few of whom return to the battlefield.
Liz Wahl: Russia Today anchor quits on air as cold war rhetoric heats upRT anchor Liz Wahl quit live on air yesterday, saying she could no longer stand the Russian government channels 'whitewashing.'
A look at Ukraine's economic holeMoney will certainly be forthcoming for Ukraine. Whether it will come soon enough and in large enough quantities is another matter.聽
'Ukraine is game to you?' It shouldn't be.An amusing Seinfeld clip about Ukraine, and a small observation about games.
A piece of news that should have Vladimir Putin grinningBritain appears to want to protect London's lucrative financial industry from the repercussions of any sanctions targeting Russian or Ukrainian officials.
