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Author Archives: Charles Duelfer
CW in Syria – Assad will be around longer than Obama
Consider: Would the events below and ponder whether they would be taking place if the Obama administration were not so obviously just running out the clock? It’s a safe bet that Bashar al-Assad will be in power longer than Barack … Continue reading
Tony Blair and the UK Chilcot Report
Below is an opinion piece that UK publications did not print. It seems anything that would appear to defend the actions of Prime Minister Tony Blair is of no interest. My take on the Chilcot review of the UK actions … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iraq, United Nations, WMD
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In Iraq–ISIS is Symptom, the Problem is Worse
In Iraq, Washington is treating a symptom and avoiding the underlying problem. Washington is busy with ISIS in Iraq and reporting substantial progress. On June 28th, Ambassador Brett McGurk reported to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/062816_McGurk_Testimony.pdf) on progress the … Continue reading
Looming Disaster of “Doing Mosul”
If President Obama pushes ahead to expel ISIS from the major city of Mosul in Iraq, without much better preparation of the post-conflict circumstances, the aftermath with be a disaster. Iraq was bad when he inherited the problem, it may … Continue reading
Mosul – Prepare for Chemical Weapons and Civilian Casualties
Retaking Mosul from ISIS is clearly the next big military objective. Visits to Baghdad by SECDEF Ash Carter and SECSTATE John Kerry clearly presage this movement. Carter announced additional US forces and capabilities. President Obama’s meetings with the GCC clearly … Continue reading
Posted in Iraq, ISIL, ISIS, ISIS Chemical Weapons, Saudi Arabia, Sunni, WMD
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ISIS and CW in Europe
Again this week ISIS has conducted a major terrorist attack in Europe by ISIS. By targeting crowds of people at transportation hubs used by millions, they appear to have been trying to kill as many as possible with as much … Continue reading
ISIS CW Attacks in Europe or Beyond?
In 2016, ISIS may once again take its terror out of the region of its “caliphate.” It had success in Paris last November and is losing ground in Iraq. Watch out for a new horror—they may take chemical attacks overseas—to … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iraq, ISIL, ISIS, ISIS Chemical Weapons, Sunni, Syria, Syria CW, Terrorism, United Nations, WMD
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Iran Nuclear Deal – IAEA calls Iran out Weapon Design Work
The IAEA report, now circulating publicly, states clearly that Iran conducted nuclear weapon design related efforts before 2003 and between 2004 and 2009. Iran denies this. Now it is up to the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, United Nations
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Iranian General Killed in Syria – US Iran Policy – Nuclear Deal Prospects
The Iran nuclear deal would be a whole lot more palatable if we had a clear picture of a robust Iran strategy that included actions to punish the part of the Iranian government that has killed so many Americans. Nuclear … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, ISIS, Syria, United Nations, WMD
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Iran Verification – Wobbly
Verification is wobbly. Yes the provisions are better than other IAEA systems, but this is nothing compared to the access and techniques used in Iraq. Moreover, it is very sensitive to how aggressive the IAEA intends to be. And there … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Russia, United Nations, WMD
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