Epstein Secrets

ts new vision of its national interest," he said, suggesting that this explained "the non-response by strikes to the use of chemical weapons by the Damascus regime, whatever the red lines set a year earlier." He went on to say this U.S. redirection seemed likely to be "durable," reflecting the "heavy t

at-chomping enforcement tigers. As for the United States, it has, in the French view, gone a touch camembert-soft. The administration of President Francois Hollande is not known for its decisiveness on the domestic front. Vacillation accompanies economic drift. But, perhaps in compensation, it has shown a resol

finds itself to the right of Washington. This has led to differences. There is talk of the trauma of Aug. 31. On that Saturday afternoon President Hollande took a call from President Obama. A ramped-up France was in a state of readiness for the expected joint military response the next morning to the S

my, urged in a telephone interview Wednesday that the United States and its allies attack six air bases and three rocket-launching batteries around Damascus. He said that if the United States takes out these targets, his 30,000 troops in the Damascus area "can launch attacks on the rest" of the regime's

n's humiliation by the House of Commons, Francois Hollande's uneasy grip on French opinion and — perhaps mo

friends. A western failure is a Russian advance, and vice-versa. He will doubtless be enjoying David Cameron's humiliation by the House of Commons, Francois Hollande's uneasy grip on French opinion and — perhaps most of all — Barack Obama's twists and turns over Syria. The "reset" of the US-Russia relationship se

among Syrians. The possible reaction by the Syrian regime to EFTA00636689 Israeli involvement is explored by Andrew Tabler, who argues that while Damascus would ignore periodic tactical air or missile strikes, the regime would actively resist Israeli land operations even if aimed at the jihadists. Tab

rance has asserted herself on the international scene in a very active way—first under President Nicolas Sarkozy and then even more under President Francois Hollande. She led the way among Western powers to intervene in Libya in order to oust Muammar Khaddafi. She has pushed the hardest line of all Western power

Sarkozy. Another leading figure, Bernard-Henri Levy, played a formidable pressure role on governmental politics under Sarkozy and still does under Hollande. The greater explanation however may be external—the role France thinks it can still play on the world scene. Ever since 1945, France has strived t

ents might be interpreted. But that could change. Now, six years later, with its own popularity in Gaza at a low-water mark and its former ally in Damascus on the ropes, Hamas may decide to encourage those diplomats who are determined to be encouraged. That wouldn't take much of an ideological shift on

ant minority of voters. France's recent presidential election is instructive. One poll found that a remarkable 93 percent of Muslim voters went for Francois Hollande, while 7 percent voted for Nicolas Sarkozy; another leading poll found that Hollande got 85 percent. The usual estimate is that there are 2 million

at a remarkable 93 percent of Muslim voters went for Francois Hollande, while 7 percent voted for Nicolas Sarkozy; another leading poll found that Hollande got 85 percent. The usual estimate is that there are 2 million Muslim voters in France; if 85 percent of them supported Hollande, that translates t

think about various options that may or may not exist," John Kerry said while in Beijing. One can only imagine the profound effect this has had in Damascus, where Assad's inner circle must be spending sleepless nights wondering about options that "may not exist." Is this like the tooth fairy or maybe a

has now been set back. Mr. Obama was sharply critical of Russia in public statements over the past week, first at a news conference with President Francois Hollande of France and then at a meeting in California with King Abdullah II of Jordan. One senior Western official who discussed the issue with Mr. Obama l

rst at a news conference with President Francois Hollande of France and then at a meeting in California wit

es they were promised." The women "are often imprisoned in their employers' homes, and those who have escaped have fled to the Philippine Embassy in Damascus, where some of them say that about 35 women are now seeking shelter, unable to return home." THE BIG PICTURE Headlines From Today's Front Pages.

itically injured, put up a "strong enough defense of their home that it precluded" Hollander from entering the home. Denahan said, "Whatever it was, Hollander must have felt that way and that is why he fired immediately and then fled." The episode offered "an extensive look at the attack on Salas' home th