People, Privacy and Fear

by Shoshana Bryen
June 18, 2013 | American Thinker

The American people often prove to be more sophisticated about themselves, their rights, and their government than they get credit for. Even if they can't enumerate the clauses, most people know the Bill of Rights is designed to restrict the government's ability to curb their speech or religious practice; take their weapons; search their persons or property without a warrant; make them incriminate themselves; deny them a lawyer, a speedy trial, and a jury of their peers; or set excessive bail. Some people know that at least in peacetime, the Army can't live in your house without your permission.

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They Voted for a Moderate: Now What?

by Shoshana Bryen
June 17, 2013 | Gatestone Institute

The 686 men who expressed their desire to run in Iran's presidential election were whittled down to 8 -- not by primaries, debates and polls, but by the six theologians and six jurists on the Guardian Council. The candidates had to be Iranian-born, over 21, and believe in "God, Islam and the Iranian Constitution." Education, military service and "public service" were also taken into account by the Council. So while much has been made of the differences among them in the West, similarities rule.

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It Wasn't an Accident

by Shoshana Bryen
June 6, 2013 | Gatestone Institute

Yesterday it was revealed that that the current US ("I've Got Israel's back") administration leaked to the media the specifications for the heretofore-secret US-Israel installation for Israel's Arrow 3 missiles. It was quickly called just another leak from an administration already reeling from leaks; someone apologized. But it was more likely a deliberate decision -- by someone. The constellation of players in the administration now contains a heavy contingent of those determined to bring "peace" to Israel. "Peace" is defined as the creation of the State of Palestine under whatever circumstances they can, and the operative question is how to bring Israel in line.

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Wissam Allouche and the Touchy Problem of Immigration

by Shoshana Bryen
June 5, 2013 | American Thinker (Bryen)

There are people for whom access to the United States is access to targets, whether human, material, or information targets. They predominantly come from or come through countries of the Middle East in which terrorists live, train, and operate. Until Congress and NGOs are willing to discuss the Wissam Allouches and the problem they present, American security will be compromised.

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Turkey's Regional Role and Internal Struggle

by Matthew RJ Brodsky
June 3, 2013 | Secure Freedom Radio / The Frank Gaffney Show

Matthew RJ Brodsky discusses the opposition in Turkey towards the Islamic agenda, relations between Turkey and Syria, the resurgence of Bashar al-Asad in the Syrian civil war, and Hezbollah's role in the conflict, on Secure Freedom Radio with Frank Gaffney.

The Sunni-Shia War in the Middle East

by Shoshana Bryen
May 23, 2013 | 1330AM WBBY Radio

JPC Senior Director Shoshana Bryen appeared with Jonathan Schanzer, Vice President of FDD on the Middle East Round Table show with Jerry Gordon of The New English Review and Mike Bates on 1330AM WBBY radio. In a wide ranging discussion of Middle East issues, she focused attention on the larger Sunni-Shia war for Islamist supremacy and Russia's decision to support the Shia side, including Syria, for fear of Sunni upheaval in the Caucasus and elsewhere. She also noted that Turkey's financial and political support for Hamas - a U.S. designated terrorist organization - should make it eligible for inclusion in the list of state sponsors of terrorism, but that the administration is unlikely to do more than object quietly.

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Rouhani, A Regime Insider, Wins Iran's Presidency

by Michael Johnson
June 18, 2013 at 2:01 pm

Thousands of Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran earlier this week after hearing the final vote count in the Islamic Republic's presidential election. Hassan Rouhani, a favorite among many young Iranians, won more than 50% of the vote, avoiding a runoff with more conservative candidates.

Attacks in Kabul Test Government's Resolve

by Beth Kanopsic
June 13, 2013 at 3:56 pm

The Taliban launched attacks on two high-profile targets this week in Kabul, Afghanistan aimed at the country's own government and a NATO command center. As Afghan security forces take over the day to day operations from international forces, the Taliban attempts to rattle the public's confidence in the Afghan government. While coalition troops begin their withdrawal from Afghanistan it is difficult to predict how the government in Kabul will fare at the end of 2014.

Syrian Rebels Seize Border Crossing to the Golan Heights

by Skyler Schmanski
June 12, 2013 at 11:50 am

Syrian rebels temporarily seized control of the Quneitra crossing between Israel and Syria on June 6, spurring Austria to withdraw all of its 380 peacekeepers stationed in the Golan Heights. Vienna attributed its decision to vacate the buffer zone, where international forces have been stationed since the 1974 armistice, to the escalating regional violence. Last Thursday's rebel attack sent the roughly 1,000 UN forces fleeing for their bunkers and injured two peacekeeping troops before the Syrian army recaptured the area.

Iraqi PM Meets with Kurdish Leaders

by Michael Johnson
June 11, 2013 at 2:53 pm

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the northern semi-autonomous area of Iraqi Kurdistan over the weekend. Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, greeted the Prime Minister in the regional capital of Erbil. Maliki brought high-level Baghdad officials for the first cabinet meeting in the city since the 2003 U.S. led invasion. The UN envoy to Iraq expressed hope that the Prime Minister's visit will help national reconciliation efforts amid growing tensions after the 2011 departure of U.S. troops.

Egyptian Court Sentences Employees of Western NGOs

by Beth Kanopsic
June 6, 2013 at 3:14 pm

A Cairo court convicted 43 non-governmental organization (NGO) employees of inciting unrest in Egypt. Government prosecutors brought charges against sixteen Americans, along with a number of Europeans and Egyptians, with 27 of the activists being charged in absentia. Ten months after the toppling of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the Egyptian police raided several NGOs as part of an investigation into their finances. Authorities accused the pro-democracy groups of working unlawfully within Egypt and receiving illegal funding from abroad. Well respected Freedom House, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), were forced to close in what is being called "a war against Egypt's growing civil society."

U.S. Removes Sanctions on Cell Phone Sales in Iran

by Skyler Schmanski
June 5, 2013 at 10:35 am

The Obama administration removed certain trade sanctions last Thursday that barred Americans from selling cell phones to non-governmental Iranian consumers. The U.S. State and Treasury Departments heralded the change in policy as a means of extending greater information and communications access to Iranian citizens. The general license permits the sale of cell phones, laptop computers, and software to consumers. It does not, however, authorize transfers of such equipment to the Iranian government or anyone on the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.

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