Terror shadows UN session: Tough rhetoric vs ‘poisonous narrative of Islamic extremism’

Terror shadows UN session: Tough rhetoric vs ‘poisonous narrative of Islamic extremism’

By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The specter and shadow of international terrorism tragically clouded the opening of the UN General Assembly session, yet again. The growing menace from ISIS/ISIL jihadi terrorists threatening the sovereignty of Iraq and Syria goes beyond the Middle East and now extends to possible terror strikes in Western Europe […]

New EU chief known as harsh critic of Putin’s incursion in Ukraine

New EU chief known as harsh critic of Putin’s incursion in Ukraine

Special to WorldTribune.com By Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com The European Council has elected Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, as its new president. Tusk, 57, who traces his political roots to the anti-communist Solidarity labor movement in the Soviet era, is the longest serving prime minister in the post-communist Poland. The prime minister is known for his hawkish views […]

U.S. intel on ISIL’s confident terror plans for West: ‘What they have is momentum’

U.S. intel on ISIL’s confident terror plans for West: ‘What they have is momentum’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has determined that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was building an infrastructure in the West. Officials said ISIL was establishing sleeper cells in the European Union in what could mark a prelude to mass-casualty attacks. They said ISIL was recruiting Europeans and Americans with […]

London warns it may cancel arms exports to Israel

London warns it may cancel arms exports to Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has warned of an imminent suspension of defense licenses for Israel. The government of Prime Minister David Cameron said it targeted a range of arms export licenses for Israel. The licenses were identified as components for aircraft, main battle tanks and radars. “The UK government has not been able […]

EU states facing political pressures on military exports to Israel

EU states facing political pressures on military exports to Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The European Union has launched another review of military exports to Israel. Western diplomats said several EU states were under pressure to suspend or restrict military exports to Israel. They said the governments included those of Britain, France, Germany and Spain. “We are currently reviewing all export licenses to Israel […]

Syrian rebels scorn UK’s offer, demand heavy weapons, missiles

Syrian rebels scorn UK’s offer, demand heavy weapons, missiles

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has decided to resume aid to the Sunni revolt in Syria. Officials said the government of Prime Minister David Cameron was planning to deliver non-lethal assistance to Western-aligned rebels in Syria. The officials said the aid to the Free Syrian Army would consist of communications, vehicles, generators and medical […]

Introspection: UK probes wisdom of offering safe haven to Muslim Brotherhood

Introspection: UK probes wisdom of offering safe haven to Muslim Brotherhood

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has launched an investigation of the Muslim Brotherhood. Officials said the government of Prime Minister David Cameron has sought to determine whether the Brotherhood, with headquarters in Egypt, was contributing to Muslim extremism in Britain. They said the investigation would also include links between Islamists in Britain and Brotherhood […]

Serious Syria: Shale oil’s global revolution, a weak NATO and the crisis that’s not going away

Serious Syria: Shale oil’s global revolution, a weak NATO and the crisis that’s not going away

Sol W. Sanders   President Barrack Obama’s sudden volte-face on a strike against the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad has only put on hold the enormous stakes in the crisis’ ultimate outcome. In one of those curious turns of history, an ugly, bloody, little conflict in an always fragile, volatile, artificial nation-state created in […]

Brits balk at $150 million price tag on Joint Strike Fighter

Brits balk at $150 million price tag on Joint Strike Fighter

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Joint Strike Fighter, designed as a low-budget fighter-jet, has now exceeded $150 million per unit. Britain, a leading partner in the JSF program, reported that the F-35 cost more than $150 million. British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said the rising cost could hamper his government’s procurement plans. “It’s [procurement] […]

Britain spending millions to train Palestinian security forces despite rights concerns

Britain spending millions to train Palestinian security forces despite rights concerns

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain, despite allegations of torture, has been playing a major role in training and financing Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. Officials acknowledged that the government of British Prime Minister David Cameron was pumping tens of millions of euros to maintain PA intelligence and security agencies. The officials said […]