Epstein Secrets

s ago, a congressional test of wills over Middle East policy between an American president and an Israeli prime EFTA00707074 minister was dubbed "Reagan or Begin." This week, the showdown on Iran negotiations might be described as "Barack or Bibi." Despite Obama administration opposition, Israeli Pr

ent crisis is already one of the biggest U.S.-Israel blowups, ever -- and it could get worse before it gets better. Not since Menachem Begin trashed Ronald Reagan's 1982 peace plan has Israel so publicly criticized a major U.S. diplomatic initiative. In a rousing speech in Jerusalem on Nov. 10, Netanyahu even c

r Menachem Begin tried to block the sale despite President Reagan's advocacy. Reagan won the test, and the AWAC sa

One interesting footnote is that a key player in the 1981 AWACs fight (and, indeed, the man who popularized the "Reagan or Begin" phrase) was Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar bin Sultan, then a diplomat in Washington and now Saudi intelligence chief. Bandar's erratic behavior in recent months has infuriat

nfrontation and deterrence as the foundations of the relationship. Military blocs would be refashioned into political organizations. What President Reagan dubbed "the evil empire" would be the good neighbor. "The long winter of world conflict based on the division of Europe seems to be approaching an

e refashioned into political organizations. What President Reagan dubbed "the evil empire" would be the good neigh

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.

onstantin 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. president may say of the Saudis, "They keep dying on me." In Saudi Arabia, there ar

tagnant society and economy. As President Ronald Reagan famously said of those old Soviet leaders, and as

. 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

ruman's reputed devotion to Israel has become the standard by which subsequent president's commitment is measured. In 1982, Richard Nixon described Ronald Reagan as the "most pro-Israel president since Truman." A Boston Globe editorial in 1998 described Bill Clinton as "the most pro-Israel president since Ha

easured. In 1982, Richard Nixon described Ronald Reagan as the "most pro-Israel president since Truman."

as long characterized the region: the Sunni-Shiite cleavage. The sectarian divide underlies the latent struggle for regional control between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The radicalization of Syria's opposition, however, has complicated the situation even further, nesting one problem within another — much

sippi, and decriminalize "small quantities" of hard drugs in Oregon "mark a welcome shift in decades of destructive drug policy" beginning with "the Reagan-era escalation of the war on drugs." The Post says "severe criminal penalties have fueled a huge growth in the prison population" with an outsized

atives on recess from 2 Oct - 16 Nov Cabinet Officers: • Secretary of State Pompeo begins France / Turkey / Georgia / Israel / UAE / Qatar / Saudi Arabia trip - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo begins trip to France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with agenda

sippi, and decriminalize "small quantities" of hard drugs in Oregon "mark a welcome shift in decades of destructive drug policy" beginning with "the Reagan-era escalation of the war on drugs." The Post says "severe criminal penalties have fueled a huge growth in the prison population" with an outsized

atives on recess from 2 Oct - 16 Nov Cabinet Officers: • Secretary of State Pompeo begins France / Turkey / Georgia / Israel / UAE / Qatar / Saudi Arabia trip - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo begins trip to France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with agenda

onomic order. President Obama has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for

were essential for crisis management in the Cold War strategic relationship after the Cuban missile crisis. Meanwhile, the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, are likely to look for their own nuclear deterrents. Much like France wanted its own nuclear force de frappe during the Cold War, the Gulf states wi

its future foreign policy-its projection of power and principle-must be grounded in the emerging economic order. President Obama has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for an assessment of HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029736 --- PAGE BREAK --- Reagan's second-term innovations on cu

ma has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for an assessment of HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029736 --- PAGE BREAK --- Reagan's second-term innovations on currency and monetary affairs, trade, debt and development. Reagan advanced a new international system to match the revi

onomic order. President Obama has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for

were essential for crisis management in the Cold War strategic relationship after the Cuban missile crisis. Meanwhile, the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, are likely to look for their own nuclear deterrents. Much like France wanted its own nuclear force de frappe during the Cold War, the Gulf states wi

its future foreign policy-its projection of power and principle-must be grounded in the emerging economic order. President Obama has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for an assessment of HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029823 --- PAGE BREAK --- Reagan's second-term innovations on cu

ma has said he admires Ronald Reagan's transformative thinking. If so, he should ask for an assessment of HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_029823 --- PAGE BREAK --- Reagan's second-term innovations on currency and monetary affairs, trade, debt and development. Reagan advanced a new international system to match the revi

heightened possibility of actual military conflict in the Gulf, where one-fifth of the world's oil supplies traverse the shipping lanes between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Growing hostility between the two countries could make it more difficult for the U.S. to exit smoothly from Iraq this year, as planned. And

alance between personal responsibility and private markets on the one hand and public responsibility and social welfare on the other — at least since Ronald Reagan and perhaps since F.D.R. The battle ahead “is the big one, and goes to the very major questions about the role of government,” said G. William Hoagl

cial welfare on the other — at least since Ronald Reagan and perhaps since F.D.R. The battle ahead “is th