After years of threats to use military force in Syria, Turkey has finally followed through. In Homeland Security recently reported on the Turkish invasion of Syria’s Afrin enclave in the northwest part of the country. While the fighting itself is important to follow, it’s also important to understand why Turkey is there and why Ankara […]
International
CIA Director Offers Unapologetic First-Year Reflection
The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) welcomed CIA Director Mike Pompeo to a forum Jan. 23, where the director reflected on the CIA’s mission, the ongoing fight against counterterrorism, and his working relationship with President Trump. “CIA is a central part of making sure that policymakers understand the threat and how best to attack [the counterterrorism […]
Trump Extends Clinton-Era Mideast Peace Order
The Trump administration Jan. 17 announced a one-year extension to Clinton-era Executive Order 12947 targeting terrorists intent on disrupting peace in the Middle East. “These terrorist activities continue to threaten the Middle East peace process and to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” President Donald […]
Trump Administration Condemns Arrests in Iran
The White House released a statement Jan. 10 voicing concern over arrests of protesters who took to the streets all over Iran beginning Dec. 28, as well as reports some demonstrators were tortured or killed. “We will not remain silent as the Iranian dictatorship represses the basic rights of its citizens and will hold Iran’s […]
Economy, Anger Fuel Simmering Iran Uprising
Protests that began Dec. 28 continue in Iran behind a murky flow of information emerging from the country. The death toll reportedly is about 22, but a confirmed total isn’t known. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Sunday to have suppressed uprisings, but The Wall Street Journal reported that calls for Sunday protests continued to […]