Epstein Secrets

he peace talks can be even convened, let alone produce results, without an implicit understanding between the two warring Gulf powers. While Saudi Arabia exercises considerable influence on Islamist rebels, Iran is crucial to Assad's survival. Both have much to gain from preventing Syria's implosion.

er and to the state." To appreciate the magnitude of what Putin is doing, it helps to recall a bit of history. In July 1989, the Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev, made a speech in Strasbourg that many took as an important step back from the Cold War. His theme was that Russia now regarded itself as sharing a

. His blog, Via Meadia, appears at the American Interest Online. Artick 2. Washington Post EFTA00657285 Next up in the Middle East mess? Saudi Arabia's succession fight Karen Elliott House 15 September -- From afar, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia appears immune from the turmoil and uncertainty engu

g which one decrepit leader succeeded another, from Leonid Brezhnev to Yuri Andropov to Konstantin Chernenko, before a younger and more open-minded Mikhail Gorbachev arrived too late to save a stagnant society and economy. As President Ronald Reagan famously said of those old Soviet leaders, and as the next U.S

Europe. Since the sanctions became law in December, administration offi=ials have encouraged oil exporters with spare capacity, particularly Saudi=Arabia, to increase their production. They have discussed with Britain and France releasing their oil reserves i= the event of a supply disruption. And th

ly ask: Has Asia=s Nelson Mandela finally met her President F.W. de Klerk? Or, if you prefer a European comparison, has Asia's Vaclav =avel met her Mikhail Gorbachev? Cue episode three in the world's prisoner-=o-president sagas? I do believe that day will come, but let us ha=e no illusions: There are still major