Shoshana Bryen is senior director of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington D.C.
Her books, available on Amazon, include:
Kurdish forces, facing a well-armed and aggressive Turkey, appear to have turned to the Syrian government — meaning its sponsors in Iran and Russia — for rescue. It makes sense in historical terms, although it is likely to be bloody in current ones. Historical, in this case, means before the U.S. military presence in the northern part of the country.
Russia, Iran oppose Turkey in Syria Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana BryenOne way to understand Trump administration foreign policy is to understand that it is more comfortable with the currency of currency than the currency of American soldiers abroad. That isn’t always the best approach, since many of America’s adversaries are wedded to military interventions — including grossly illegal ones. And how the United States reassures its allies that it is not abandoning the playing field to soldiers on the other side is of inestimable importance.
Money, not soldiers, is Trump’s weapon of choice Read More »
International, Shoshana Bryen, Sports & Competitions, USAMohammad Ali Hammadi has been arrested by Greek police. It was only a short story in the Daily Mail of Britain — and barely in the American papers at all, except, naturally, Navy Times.
Think back.
U.S. Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem was aboard TWA Flight 847 on June 14, 1985, scheduled to fly from Cairo to San Diego with intermediate stops. It never made it. The plane was hijacked after a stop in Athens by Shi’ite Hezbollah terrorists who first looked for passengers with Israeli passports. Finding none, they brutally murdered Stethem on a stop in Beirut and threw his body out on the tarmac. (Please click headline to read more)
Terrorist murderer of U.S. Navy sailor eludes extradition Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — American security assistance generally is predicated on the principle that a smaller or poorer country that has U.S. equipment and training will be better able to defend common interests than one that doesn’t. Sometimes it works that way. But sometimes it puts the U.S. in bed with people who want
Why is the U.S. training the Lebanese Army? Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rashida Tlaib was in tears over the conditions in which her grandmother lives in the West Bank, and furious that her mother, an American citizen, was forced to go through a “checkpoint” from Israel once in order to visit her. “As a young girl, visiting Palestine to see my
Some facts that may upset Rashida Tlaib Read More »
Jewish History, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration’s presentation of an economic plan — rather than a political plan — for the Palestinians was generally mocked or dismissed. As it percolates, however, it appears the administration, as is its habit, was reading trends. The formulation takes an axe to the notion that all plans,
U.S. going around P.A. to the people Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The recent Arrow 3 missile test in Alaska, announced on Sunday, was nearly taken out by a rogue. Not a rogue missile, mind you, but a rogue amendment to the to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Earlier this month, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) proposed the following language: “None of
Frankel nearly undoes U.S. – Israel cooperation Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — What appears to be an oil tanker war brewing in the Red Sea and beyond, including the downing of an Iranian drone by a U.S. Navy ship, is more evidence that Iran is showing the strain of American-led sanctions and reluctant European acknowledgment that appeasing the Islamic Republic is
The ‘good times’ for ambitious Iran are over Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen inFOCUS Quarterly WASHINGTON, D.C. —One of the few points of unbounded bipartisan agreement in Washington has for decades been that U.S.-Israel security cooperation is right, good, mutually beneficial and worth every nickel spent on it. It is well–grounded in facts and acknowledged benefits to both sides. Today, however, support for Israel is
How U.S. benefits with Israel as its strategic partner Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D. C –For Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, the world must start fresh every day. That would explain her ignorance on Iran. “None of this [tension] would be happening if Trump didn’t back out of the Iran nuclear deal,” Omar said on Twitter. “America’s response should be to return to the table
No Rep. Omar, Iran troubles didn’t start with Trump Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C –U.S. policy toward the Middle East swings substantially depending upon the occupant of the Oval Office, but some hoary myths persist year after year. One concerns the legal status of the territories. U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told The New York Times that, “Under certain circumstances, I think Israel
‘Illegal occupation’ by Israel is a myth Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The return of Israel to election mode is no reason to change the Trump administration’s plans for the U.S.-led economic conference set for Bahrain in late June. The Palestinian decision to boycott the meeting certainly is no reason to change — or cancel — it. It needs only a few tweaks to
How Bahrain Conference can lead to peace Read More »
Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — America’s Memorial Day is to remember those who “gave their last full measure of devotion” to our country and our cause. Brave men and women fought and died from Bunker Hill to New Orleans to Buena Vista to Shiloh and Cold Harbor to Chateau-Thierry to Cape Esperance and Kasserine
Memorial Day and the beliefs we hold dear Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, USABy Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite the fact that the Trump administration has spent two years communicating its concerns with Hungary regarding academic freedom, anti-Semitism, and other illiberal positions of the Hungarian government, the visit of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump has set off
Why Hungarians relate to Israelis, but not to Jews Read More »
International, Shoshana Bryen, USA