After Unprecedented Fight, Hagel Confirmed as Obama’s Pentagon Chief

via IPS News Ending a long and controversial battle, the U.S. Senate Tuesday voted 58-41 to confirm former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama’s new secretary of defence. The confirmation, which followed a more-lopsided 71-27 vote to end… Continue Reading

Despite Right-Wing Opposition, Hagel Looks Set for Confirmation

by Jim Lobe via IPS News Despite an appeal Thursday by 15 right-wing Republican senators for President Barack Obama to withdraw the nomination of Chuck Hagel as his next defence secretary, the former Republican senator from Nebraska appears virtually certain… Continue Reading

Saudi Arabia Seen Unlikely to Seek Nukes If Iran Gets One

by Jim Lobe via IPS News Challenging what has become conventional wisdom here, a new report released here Tuesday by an influential think tank argues that Iran’s neighbours – Saudi Arabia in particular – are unlikely to pursue nuclear weapons… Continue Reading

U.S. Urged to Lean Harder on Bahrain’s Ruling Family

by Jim Lobe via IPS News On the eve of the second anniversary of the uprising in Bahrain, the administration of President Barack Obama is being urged to press the royal family to make genuine compromises with the predominantly Shi’a… Continue Reading

Few Hopes for Iran Breakthrough

by Jim Lobe via IPS News Despite an agreement between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) to resume long-delayed talks about Tehran’s nuclear programme in Kazakhstan at the end of this month,… Continue Reading