The art of survival: Basher Assad’s secret message to the ‘czar’ in Moscow

The art of survival: Basher Assad’s secret message to the ‘czar’ in Moscow

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey HAIFA, Israel — In a recent secret visit to Moscow, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad told Vladimir Putin that he would assure quiet on Israel’s border. I am constantly amazed how the mainstream media [even here in Israel] can ignore the most interesting things that are happening, while concentrating on […]

With Turkey out of the Mideast power equation, what next for its neighbors, including Israel?

With Turkey out of the Mideast power equation, what next for its neighbors, including Israel?

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey HAIFA, Israel — In 2015 column on Turkey, I wrote: “At the point that chaos threatens, the army will step in and take over”. Well, the army stepped in nine months later, but did not take over. The recent coup attempt was so badly planned and executed that it […]

There are a few serious problems with the Israel-Turkey deal

There are a few serious problems with the Israel-Turkey deal

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey Israel has conceded Turkish demands and betrayed allies in return for illusory gains. After years of a hostile political relationship, Israel and Turkey have decided to restore diplomatic relations, apparently on the following bases: Having already apologized to Turkey for the passengers on the Turkish blockade runner Mavi Marmara […]

U.S. diplomats condemn own government’s stance on Syria

U.S. diplomats condemn own government’s stance on Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey An historically significant event has just taken place which has been largely ignored by what the “Wall Street Journal” called the “obsequious” media: 51 active-duty U.S. diplomats issued what is called a “dissent channel memorandum” denouncing the policies of the Obama administration towards the Syrian conflict. The original dissent […]

The real reason why the special U.S.-Israel relationship is changing forever: Debt

The real reason why the special U.S.-Israel relationship is changing forever: Debt

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey Israel just celebrated its 68th birthday. Since President Harry Truman overrode the entire foreign policy community of his day, inside the government and outside, and recognized the new State of Israel, the United States has been Israel’s external sponsor of last resort. There is nothing unusual in this — […]

Israel has new Sunni friends in the ‘southern arc’ but will they survive?

Israel has new Sunni friends in the ‘southern arc’ but will they survive?

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey Cooperation with Sunni Arab countries against Iran is welcome, but it does not yet look reliable. For a long time now, analysts and commentators have been talking about the northern or Sh’ia arc and the southern or Sunni arc in the Arab Middle East. The northern arc is led […]

America is finally ripe for a ‘full-blown’ popular revolt which could favor Israel

America is finally ripe for a ‘full-blown’ popular revolt which could favor Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey A Hillary Clinton presidency will be more of the same, but Donald Trump will upend U.S. politics, and favor Israel. It is now clear that, barring the possibility that the FBI will recommend the indictment of Hillary Clinton for endangering national security by sending and receiving classified material on […]

Besieged Israel is flourishing, and its diplomacy? Except in the West, not shabby

Besieged Israel is flourishing, and its diplomacy? Except in the West, not shabby

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey While Israel’s public diplomacy is a disaster, its official diplomacy in the Arab world, Asia, Africa and Russia has scored notable successes. The “Jerusalem Post’s” March 4th Magazine Section’s “Hot Off the Arab Press” feature contained an article which appeared in the Feb. 27 issue of Al-Bayan, an Emirati […]

Capital ownership crisis: U.S. voters face choice between rage-fear and envy-resentment

Capital ownership crisis: U.S. voters face choice between rage-fear and envy-resentment

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey The U.S. presidential election reflects forces that will tear Western society apart unless capital ownership expands beyond the elite. There is a bitter joke in the U.S. that every two years the American people are asked to choose between the stupid party and the evil party, which is which […]

Syrian crisis present more immediate threat to Israel

Syrian crisis present more immediate threat to Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey Israel is wisely keeping out of the fray in Syria, but it may be challenged all the same. There are more than two dozen state and non-state actors battling over the prostrate body of what used to be Syria, one of the artificial entities carved out in the Middle […]