A Loveless Diplomatic Marriage with No Future

A Loveless Diplomatic Marriage with No Future

Among the would-be therapists of the foreign policy world, the alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia is a textbook case of a “loveless marriage.” Though the values of the two states are at odds, or so the thinking goes, the great democracy...
How to End the Syrian Bloodshed

How to End the Syrian Bloodshed

The international negotiations to end the brutal civil war in Syria were never going to be easy. Getting all sides to the table was itself a huge challenge. On the eve of the talks it looked, for a moment, like at least that first step might be possible. To prevent...
A Reason to Party Like It’s 1989

A Reason to Party Like It’s 1989

These days, you can get the feeling the Cold War never ended. Le Carré-style intrigue has, it turns out, barely skipped a beat. The 9/11 attacks injected the U.S. spymaster apparatus with steroids. But 23 years ago this week, the Cold War did end. I don’t...
Bursts of Light and Fresh Air

Bursts of Light and Fresh Air

I know that life is supposed to be full of surprises but the last few weeks have been ridiculous. For example, you had the unnerving spectacle of Vladimir Putin, the former KGB thug who runs Russia, rescuing Barack Obama, the former community organizer who runs his...
Remembering Saul Landau, 1936-2013

Remembering Saul Landau, 1936-2013

By divine intervention, Saul Landau entered my life 12 years ago and taught me how to write, film, and live with dignity. We instantly bonded over having fathers from the “old country” — his father from Ukraine, mine from Syria — and being Semites with...