- American, French journalist killed in Syrian bombardment of Homs (+video)
- Nuclear talks with Iran? Senators implore Obama to draw line in the sand.
- Climategate sequel? Scientist lies to get Heartland Institute documents.
- High gas prices: How big a problem for Obama?
- Obama sings the blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King (+video)
Topic: Israel
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Who is Hamas? 5 questions about the Palestinian militant group.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to form a unity government led by Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and head of rival Palestinian faction Fatah. But who is Hamas? What is their relationship with Fatah, and what might Hamas gain from reconciling with them? Here are five key questions about Hamas.
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Three factors that will determine Syria’s future
The most realistic scenario in Syria is quagmire: Assad still has loyalty; the opposition is splintered, though protests continue; and the international community is indecisive, including the Arab League. But stalemate could finally prompt foreign intervention and a needed ‘safe zone. Benedetta Berti, a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies of Tel Aviv University, lists the three factors that will determine Syria’s future.
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5 ways Americans and Iranians are surprisingly similar
Despite escalating US-Iran tensions, remarkable similarities between their peoples have prompted some to suggest that the US and Iran could one day be powerful ‘natural’ allies.
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Five reasons to attack Iran
Sanctions against Iran are tightening, including Europe’s ban on oil imports. Tehran is highly unlikely to reach a negotiated agreement over its nuclear program, says Matthew Kroenig, a Stanton Nuclear Security fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations believes. In the choice between Iran having nuclear weapons and a US military strike to prevent that, a strike is the least bad option. Here Mr. Kroenig gives five reasons the US should attack Iran.
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What's Ahmadinejad getting out of his Latin America tour?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Latin America trip, a whirlwind four-nation tour that began in Venezuela on Jan. 8, is now taking him to the inauguration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The trip is his fifth visit to the region since 2007 and has prompted alarm in some corners of the United States that Iran is using the region as a staging ground to attack US interests.
However, many who study Iran’s relationship with Latin America, in particular Venezuela, say fear of an Iranian threat in the Americas is overblown, at least at this point. Here are four reasons why:
All Content
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Questions remain: Iran blocks nuclear experts from key site
The UN nuclear watchdog agency left after two days of talks failed despite 'intensive efforts.' It will report on Iran's program in days.
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Nuclear talks with Iran? Senators implore Obama to draw line in the sand.
The senators are urging Obama to demand that Iran suspend all of its uranium enrichment during any negotiations over its nuclear program, a position that could scuttle chances for the talks.
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Syria stalemate: Is Russia pushing Mideast into cold-war style conflict?
Russia is refusing to attend an Arab League-hosted meeting on Syria, and experts warn its stance could embolden Iran to stand firm against the West. The US meanwhile softened its stance on arming the opposition.
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Israeli Iran attack? What goes around comes around.
Be forewarned, Israel and the US. We are entering a dangerous stage in which Iran feels it must respond in kind to attacks against it. When two nations engage in patterns of attacks and counterattacks, it's much easier for a mistake or misjudgment to lead to disaster.
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Backchannels
The Iran war party and the war skeptics
In one corner, we have the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the heads of the US and Israeli intelligence communities, and the Pentagon. In the other corner, we have TV pundits and politicians.
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How scientists brought 30,000-year-old flower back to life
In what is being hailed as the oldest successful regeneration of a living plant, researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences used cells from a 30,000-year-old plant buried in permafrost to create living seedlings.
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Russia continues arms sales to Syria despite Western protests
Russia has increased its delivery of arms to Syria that critics say are being used against Syrians.
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Israel's ex-spy chief sees opportunity in Syria crisis
In an interview, former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy says a collapse of the Assad regime in Syria could deal a blow to Iran's regional ambitions and nuclear program
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Terrorism & Security
IAEA nuclear experts visit Iran - but no nuclear sites
The second visit in a month by members of the UN nuclear watchdog agency is aimed at laying the groundwork for negotiations between Iran and the IAEA.
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Romney takes on the world as he vies for US presidency
It often appears that Mitt Romney is targeting the rest of the world as fiercely as he does his rivals for the party nomination and President Obama. Could his rhetoric damage US relations abroad?
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McCain: Egypt and US 'must remain friends'
Sen. John McCain tried to smooth over tensions with Egypt following the country's decision to prosecute 16 American democracy workers
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US military officials urge caution on attacking Iran
The problem is that many of the Iranian targets – buried deeply underground – would be beyond the reach of the Israeli military, in what Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey calls a “zone of immunity.”
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The cool new Palestinians: geeks
The West Bank and Gaza Strip is home to hundreds of tech companies, creating everything from websites to smart phone apps.
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Backchannels
Syria, Al Qaeda, and cognitive dissonance for fans of intervention
Want Bashar al-Assad out of power in Syria? Al Qaeda's on your team.
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Global News Blog
Anthony Shadid: Quite simply the best
Our veteran Lebanon reporter Nicholas Blanford recalls the courage, humility, and friendliness of his Lebanese-American colleague, who died yesterday while reporting in Syria.
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Editor's Blog
Is Iran rational enough for MAD?
From the 1940s until 1990, the threat of 'mutual assured destruction' terrorized the superpowers into avoiding nuclear war. Would MAD work if Iran gets the Bomb?
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Could Al Qaeda get Syria's chemical weapons?
Syria is thought to have large caches of nerve and mustard gases, plus thousands of shoulder-fired missiles – weapons that some worry could fall into the hands of Al Qaeda.
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What would happen if Iran had the bomb? (+video)
Even as Tehran signals an interest in nuclear talks, many experts have already envisioned what the world would look like if the country got nuclear weapons. It wouldn't be as dire as many fear, but it would unleash new uncertainties - and perhaps a regional arms race.
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Which Iran is Obama dealing with?
Events in recent days reveal two views of Iranian leaders: as either pragmatic to the pressure of sanctions or irrationally bent on terror and Israel's demise. So far, Obama is playing to Iranian rationality, reflected by the Iranian people.
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Terrorism & Security
Thai officials say Tuesday's Bangkok blasts were meant for Israeli diplomats
The Iranian suspects in the Bangkok blasts were planning to attack Israeli diplomats, a senior Thai intelligence official said. Earlier blasts in India and Georgia also targeted Israelis this week.
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US blames al-Qaida of Iraq for Syrian bombings
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said bombings against security and intelligence targets in Damascus and Aleppo bear 'all the earmarks of an al-Qaida-like attack,' leading the US intelligence community to believe the Iraqi militant branch is extending its reach into Syria.
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Afghan peace: Karzai, Ahmadinejad in Pakistan for talks
Afghan president Hamid Karzai is seeking help in negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban from his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in Islamabad today.
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Terrorism & Security
Israel, US dismiss Iran's most recent nuclear progress claims
Iran made a show yesterday of the loading of domestically produced fuel rods and installment of new centrifuges. Israel and the US see the moves as bravado.
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Iran's good cop, bad cop act: agrees to talks, flaunts nuclear advances
Iran has agreed to return to talks about its nuclear program. But it also trumpeted advances in that nuclear program, showing that it wants to bargain from a position of strength.
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Syrians feel caught in an external power struggle, less willing to confront their own
Syrians feel caught in a proxy power struggle among the US, Gulf states, China, and Russia – who all seem more concerned with their interests and less with democracy for all. This external fight is preventing Syrians from making vital decisions about their own internal challenges.
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