The recent unveiling of a framework for future talks about Iran’s nuclear program has some hailing it as a great step towards an Iran without nuclear weapons, while others believe giving Iran any nuclear capability is a step in the wrong direction. While this framework represents significant progress, it does not go far enough in … Continue reading
Author Archives: Elan Weinberger
The Israeli Election: Netanyahu May be a Political Genius, but it Comes with a Cost
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s reelection last week has surprised many Israelis as well as the rest of the world. Almost every poll taken prior to the election showed Netanyahu’s conservative Likud Party losing by around two to five seats to the center-left Zionist Union Party led by Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni. Many attribute … Continue reading
A World Free of Nuclear Weapons? More like a World Full of Nuclear Weapons.
The use of nuclear weapons is perhaps the most dangerous threat one state can make against another. Dropping a single bomb can kill millions of civilians, destroy cities and cause massive economic damage. When the U.S. dropped the Atom bomb on Nagasaki, it destroyed approximately 40 percent of the buildings in the city. In Hiroshima, … Continue reading
Want to Weaken Terrorist Groups? Go After Their Bank Accounts.
Terrorist groups use a variety of different methods for funding. Many of them, including Al Qaeda and Al- Shebab, heavily rely on donations and money laundering in order to support their operations. The Islamic State is no exception. While it takes advantage of other funding opportunities, including black market crude oil sales and looting, both … Continue reading
Reducing the Trade Deficit with China: Repealing the Crude Oil Export Ban
With much of the current energy conversation surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, many Americans have forgotten, or may not even know, about another energy issue that might just be more important: the crude oil export ban. Since the 1970’s, the U.S. government has prohibited U.S. oil producers to export crude oil internationally in order to … Continue reading
Where the Power Really Is: Netanyahu’s Visit and its Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy
John Boehner’s recent invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in front of a joint meeting of Congress in March has infuriated the Obama Administration. The White House claims they were never consulted about the invitation and did not know that Netanyahu was coming until Boehner announced it publically, which Obama Press Secretary … Continue reading