Some of the myths that drive Arab discourse about American behaviour in the Middle East are fascinating for what they say about our relationship with the region. Often profoundly wrong, they are frustratingly persistent. I am writing this on a plane returning from the Middle Ea

If “l’affaire Netanyahu” was not bad enough, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell added insult to injury when he announced that early next week he will move for a vote on a bill requiring the White House to secure congressional review and approval of any agr

In a few days, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will mount the podium of the US Congress to speak before a joint session of the House and Senate. He will use the occasion to blast Iran and issue dire warnings about the current US-led negotiations designed to limi

I must admit that I was somewhat sceptical as I approached this week’s “White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE). I was concerned that it might end up being nothing more than a “box-checking” exercise.

US President Barack Obama’s remarks, last week, at the annual National Prayer Breakfast were theologically sound and politically smart. In spite of this, his comments set off a storm of criticism from conservative critics who took him to task for both his theology and his

A few weeks ago, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal delivered a speech to the Henry Jackson Society in London, focusing on the dangers “radical Islam” poses to the world’s “freedom-loving people”. Far from a serious discussion, the speech amounted to l

The election season has just begun and for those who have a consuming passion for presidential politics, the 2016 cycle promises to be a delight. A few months ago, pundits were writing about the likelihood of a Hillary Clinton/Jeb Bush contest, but that speculation was clearly p

When I was growing up, I remember a saying that was used to describe the behaviour of persons who were so cocky that they did really dumb things: “He’s so smart, he’s stupid.” I thought of this expression when I heard the speaker of the House of Represent

The perpetrators of the horror at Charlie Hebdo were not devout Muslims outraged by insults directed at their faith.