Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Commentaries, Opinons, And Editorials -- October 23, 2013

The explosion of the Marine Corps building in Beirut, Lebanon on October 23, 1983 created a large cloud of smoke that was visible from miles away. Wikipedia

30 Years After the Beirut Bombing We Have Learned Nothing -- Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast

On the 30th anniversary of the bombing in Beirut that killed 241 members of the U.S. military, Christopher Dickey says America has failed to learn the harsh lessons of Middle East intervention.

An Iranian photographer caught the image of the mushroom cloud over Beirut – and over the headquarters of the United States Marines there. He had been watching from afar and waiting as a yellow Mercedes truck packed with thousands of pounds of explosives and inflammable gas plowed through concertina-wire barriers, sped past sentries, and drove straight into the lobby of what was called the Batallion Landing Team, or BLT, headquarters near the city’s international airport.

The Iranian snapped the shutter, preserving for posterity that moment exactly 30 years ago today when Americans began to learn just how vulnerable they were when they ventured to impose their ideas of stability in the Middle East and the Muslim world. Sadly, it was a lesson that had to be relearned again and again, and among some – like those clamoring for greater American and international intervention in Syria – it still may not be understood.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Thirty Years After Beirut Bombing, Criticism of Iranian Defense Minister’s Role -- The Tower

A Survivor Of The Devastating Beirut Attack Shares His Story On The 30th Anniversary -- Lance Cpl. Lisette Leyva, US Marine Corps, Business Insider

Syria like it or not we will have to talk to Assad -- Con Coughlin, Daily Telegraph

As talks continue, Iran inches closer to full nuclear capability -- Majid Rafizadeh, The National

Saudi Arabia’s Security Council charade -- Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post

Why is Saudi Arabia distancing itself from the US? -- Ariel Zirulnick, Christian Science Monitor

Obama Can Safely Ignore Saudi Tantrums -- Shashank Joshi, Bloomberg

In Libya, militias call the government's shots -- Wil Crisp, Christian Science Monitor

Drones may be Sharif's only weapon in talks with Obama -- Arsla Jawaid, The Guardian

Egyptians Abandoning Hope and Now, Reluctantly, Homeland -- Kareem Fahim, New York Times

How Africa's Most Successful Peace Treaty Fell Apart -- J. Dana Stuster, Passport/Foreign Policy

Russian Suicide Bus Bombing Sparks Terrorism Fears for Sochi Olympics -- Simon Shuster, Time

The Decline and Fall of France -- Milton Ezrati, National Interest

Brazil oil auction forces Rousseff to reconsider Petrobras's role -- Stephen Kurczy, Christian Science Monitor

Obama Advisors Try to Salvage Their Reputations -- Seth Mandel, Commentary

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