Lindsey Graham’s Guide to Diplomacy

by Derek Davison They say “everybody’s a critic,” and they’re right. Who wouldn’t want to be a critic? Not only is criticism important, but being a critic can be fun and easy. The Greek historian Plutarch once wrote, “It is a… Continue Reading

Obstacle: The US Role In Israel-Palestine

by Mitchell Plitnick There are many false clichés about the Israel-Palestine conflict. There are also some very true ones, though these are heard less frequently. Perhaps the most profound of these was proven once again this week: the United States… Continue Reading

Tragedy and Perfidy: The Figure of Mahmoud Abbas

by Mitchell Plitnick Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with US President Barack Obama this week, following in the footsteps of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the month. But unlike Netanyahu, Abbas is a much less heralded or… Continue Reading

US, EU: Stop Name-Calling and Get to Work

by Robert E. Hunter Accidents happen, even to seasoned US diplomats. In this case, the Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia was caught in a highly sensitive conversation on Ukraine’s future with the US ambassador in Kiev. Not… Continue Reading

Why Israeli-Palestinian Talks Will Fail, Again

by Mitchell Plitnick There is an odd sort of atmosphere today around the soon-to-fail Israel-Palestine talks. A dramatic gesture by the United States, presenting its own security plans to both Israel and the Palestinians, has engendered mostly yawns. Yet the… Continue Reading