Epstein Secrets

toward supporting independence for Kurdistan, a position that would put it at odds with the United States over the partition of Iraq. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for it a week ago Sunday. And while Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, back-pedalled from the comment on Monday, analysts here sa

alled for it a week ago Sunday. And while Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, back-pedalled from the comment on Monday, analysts here say Netanyahu is just recognising what is already taking place. Mr. Netanyahu's call last Sunday for Kurdish independence came just days after Israel bought a del

ty. Washington has urged the country's factions to work together toward forging a new government that would see the country's Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki step aside. "A united Iraq is a stronger Iraq," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters last week. But Iraq's parliament failed to re

which indicated that 69% of Israeli would be in favor of a peace plan based on the Arab Peace Initiative if it received backing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, Kerry is also supporting investment as a way to support peace, inspired by recent efforts with former British Prime Minister Tony Blai

it received backing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, Kerry is also supporting investment

remains a definitive part of the conflict. The violence is the worst Iraq has seen in five years and represents a major challenge to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Iran: The presidential candidacy of Ali Akbar Hashem Rafsanjani, a former President and co-founder of the Iranian Revolution and Esfandiar Rahim M

the measures necessary to preserve it. A cult of toughness developed among Israel's political elite, which has taken full flower in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners. But Peres remained outside the tough-guy circle. He spoke openly, perpetually, about his yearning for peace. Peres's g

cal wedding, never quite achieving the status of some of his contemporaries. But he outlasted them all, and as Americans began to wonder during the Netanyahu years whether Israel was really committed to a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem, Peres was a reassuring affirmation. The optimistic s

ir less experienced allies, who are now decamping for home. Since late December, Shia militiamen have returned to Iraq to defend the government of Nouri al-Maliki against the ISIS-led insurgency in the country's west. Given the lightening-speed advance of ISIS this month, threats to destroy Shia holy sites, a

ast week that is exactly what we have seen. First came the Thomas Friedman column in the New York Times: "I sure hope that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, understands that the standing ovation he got in Congress this year was not for his politics. That ovation was bought and paid for by the Israel lo

sure hope that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, understands that the standing ovation he got in

e Washington Post In Iraq, a return to old enmities Editorial December 21 -- PRESIDENT OBAMA struck a "mission accomplished" tone when he greeted Nouri al-Maliki at the White House last week, heaping praise on the Iraqi prime minister and declaring that he "leads Iraq's most inclusive government yet." It di

regime managed to survive. There have been four subsequent attempts by Israeli prime ministers -- one=by Ehud Barak, one by Ehud Olmert, and two by Benjamin Netanyahu -- to for=e a peace with Syria. This shared history with the As=ad regime is relevant when considering Israel's strategy toward the ongo=ng civil w

China. Prospects for U.S. brokerage of Israeli/Palestinian peace are bleaker than they've been in a long time.=President Obama's relationship with Netanyahu, to put it mildly, is not wa=m, and the continued split between Fatah and Hamas complicates matters fur=her. The administration has also publicly si

l against an Alawite minority, has been a boon t= the Sunnis of Iraq. The Sunnis have bottomless grievances against the gov=rnment of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. To them, Maliki, who spent a qua=ter-century exiled in Syria and Iran, is an agent of the Iranian theocracy. So even though the regime in S=ria di

as been able to gradually squeeze the Iranian economy. By insisting that "containment" is not an option, Obama has persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he need not launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities -- at least not any time soon. Obama has done everything right, and yet his Iran pol

ma has persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he need not launch an attack on Iran's nucl

e flow of oil to the global market. While tensions have risen over the past two years, the triggers for recent eruptions are clear. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, had the bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, who is Sunni, arrested for alleged terrorist activities on Dec. 20 — almost ex

came too late," he said. His frustration is understandable. Since President Obama took office, the only direct negotiations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Mr. Abbas lasted a mere two weeks in September 2010. Both sides share the blame with Mr. Obama and Arab leaders (we put the greater

nd Mr. Abbas lasted a mere two weeks in September 2010. Both sides share the blame with Mr. Obama and Arab leaders (we put the greater onus on Mr. Netanyahu, who has used any excuse to thwart peace efforts). But the best path to statehood remains negotiations. The United States and its Quartet partners

bal barbecuing by congressional committees on national television; and endless, painstaking parleys with prickly, unpredictable characters such as Nouri al-Maliki and Hamid Karzai. He's 62; he tried to retire once, after Iraq, but was coaxed back into service by Obama and Petraeus after U.S. relations with Ka

ama has persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he need not launch an attack on Iran's nucle

ree flow of oil to the global market. While tensions have risen over the past two years, the triggers for recent eruptions are clear. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, had the HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_027116 --- PAGE BREAK --- bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, who is Sunni, arrested for alleged te

able to gradually squeeze the Iranian economy. By insisting that "containment" is not an option, Obama has persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he need not launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities -- at least not any time soon. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_028730 --- PAGE BREAK --- Obama has d

free flow of oil to the global market. While tensions have risen over the past two years, the triggers for recent eruptions are clear. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, had the HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_028742 --- PAGE BREAK --- bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, who is Sunni, arrested for alleged ter