Published on by Gary Grappo
Published first at The Cipher Brief on August 24, 2020
Lebanon today is occupied. It is reeling from political and economic collapse, widespread anti-government demonstrations, the coronavirus pandemic and, most recently, a 2,700-ton blast that leveled the port of Beirut. All of it may be laid at the feet of an entrenched, scandalously corrupt and colossally inept political class in partnership with the world’s most […]
Published on by Gary Grappo
Published first at Fair Observer on August 14, 2020
The unspoken message to Ramallah of the announcement of the establishment of formal relations between the two nations is “get on with it” — negotiate and settle with Israel while there’s still some chance for an independent Palestinian state. The August 13 announcement of normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates breaks the […]
Published on by Gary Grappo
Published first at Fair Observer on August 4, 2020
The First Gulf War may have been the last time that so many countries and the UN agreed to come together under the flag of multilateralism to confront authoritarianism in the Middle East. This week marks the 30th anniversary of Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Desperate to pay off his nation’s seemingly insurmountable debt, […]
Published on by Gary Grappo
Published first at Fair Observer on June 25, 2020
Palestinians, most Arabs and much of Europe have voiced strong objections to Israel’s pending annexation decision, while the US, perhaps the most critical influencer, remains silent. Uncertainty hangs over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pending decision on whether to annex as much a 30% of the West Bank, including the possibility of all existing Israeli […]
Published on by Gary Grappo
Published first at Fair Observer on July 16, 2020
The decision to impose restrictions on visas for foreign students is a textbook example of the incompetence, ignorance, hubris and blundering of a misguided president and ineffectual administration. Imagine you had decided that American politics in the age of Donald Trump was simply too much, a risk of non-stop heartburn, high blood pressure and elevated angst. […]