Netanyahu and Trump weigh a war as the election clock runs out
As Israeli leaders push for strikes on Iran, domestic political calendars and mutual threats of escalation drive both capitals toward another military gamble.
By Tom Beckwith ·
national security — Lorien Times
Riyadh drawdown signals the failure of Saudi air defense
The State Department ordered diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia after Houthi strikes, exposing Washington's lack of faith in Riyadh's security and its own appetite for escalation.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Steve Witkoff's praise for Putin is a costly diplomatic error
By calling Vladimir Putin a humanitarian to secure a prisoner's release, Steve Witkoff traded American credibility for a tactical win that rewards Russian aggression.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Musk's orbital veto blinds Ukraine while Washington looks away
Elon Musk choked SpaceX satellite links to Ukrainian drones as the White House feigned ignorance, revealing the terrifying leverage a tech billionaire holds over a sovereign state's survival.
By Aoife Gallagher ·
Trump trades sanctions for Putin's empty promise of peace
President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russia to secure a prisoner's release and a promise of trilateral talks, a move that rewards aggression and undermines Ukrainian security.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Putin frees Stephen Hubbard to mask a diplomatic dead end
By releasing a retired teacher after a plea from Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin offers a low-cost gesture that masks his rigid demands for Ukrainian territory.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump trades Ukrainian security for a Russian settlement
Washington applies harsh pressure on Kyiv while extending economic carrots to Moscow, revealing an administration eager to force a settlement on Russian terms.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump uses intelligence to squeeze Zelenskyy into a deal
After briefly suspending early warnings of Russian strikes, the Trump administration has resumed intelligence sharing to maintain a facade of support while pressuring Kyiv to surrender.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Washington blames Kyiv as peace envoys trade Oslo for Moscow
American envoys met Ukrainian leaders in Norway while Washington dismissed severe warnings of withheld aid, mirroring a historic pattern of dangerous great power overreach.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Russia's Kosmos 2612 probe reveals a void in Western deterrence
By stalking a commercial satellite supporting Ukraine, Russia has signaled that the distinction between civilian and military assets in orbit is dead, leaving the West without a credible response.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump delays Patriot missiles to squeeze a deal from Kyiv
Washington delays prepaid air defense shipments to pressure Kyiv into negotiations, reviving a coercive playbook that treats allied survival as a transactional lever.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump breaks the Graham Act and hands Putin a lifeline on Ukraine
President Trump waived bipartisan sanctions and tariffs on Russia to ease fuel prices, proving once again that Washington will always choose comfort over enforcement.
By Emilio Quesada ·
Trump trades statutory Russia sanctions for diesel and 60 days
The White House delays newly enacted penalties on Moscow to ease fuel prices and court a hostage agreement, trading long-term allied credibility for short-term political relief.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump and Musk throttle Starshield and make Ukraine pay
When Washington and SpaceX throttled Starshield speeds for Ukrainian front-line defenses, both capitals of power dodged blame while the periphery paid the price.
By Aoife Gallagher ·
Trump's Russian diesel waiver trades credibility for pump prices
President Trump waived sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel costs and incentivize peace, but the move undermines U.S. law and rewards Vladimir Putin for no guaranteed gain.
By Tom Beckwith ·
Trump waives Russian diesel sanctions in a strategic surrender
By Tom Beckwith ·