By Alon Ben-Meir* Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—mirror images of arrogance and deceit—have subverted democratic norms in pursuit of personal power. Their malignant narcissism, contempt for law, and appetite for conflict led to the horrific war with Iran NEW YORK | 14 April 2026 (IDN) — Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are criminal leaders whose […]
Imposing Tariffs Declared a Sham
By Goh Chien Yen The writer is a trade and investment lawyer at Third World Network. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia | 11 April 2026 (IDN) — Richard Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, Inc., the educational toy company whose Supreme Court victory struck down President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs six weeks earlier, has filed a four-page submission to […]
While Distancing from AIPAC, Most 2028 Democratic Hopefuls Are Still Embracing Israel
By Norman Solomon* SAN FRANCISCO, USA | 9 April 2026 (IDN) — After decades of bipartisan deference to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the likely contenders for the next Democratic presidential nomination have been distancing themselves from the powerful organization. The shift is significant. But disavowing AIPAC has become a box-checking exercise, useful […]
Bluster Without Strategy: Trump’s Ill-Fated Iran War
By Alon Ben-Meir* Trump’s address to the nation on the Iran war was intended to project control and resolve. Instead, it revealed indecision and disarray, marked by contradictions, self-praise, and shifting objectives. What was billed as a declaration of strength became a striking exposé of confusion and faltering leadership—both at home and abroad. NEW YORK […]
A Gateway to Hell: How the War Against Iran Will Harm the West
By Michael von der Schulenburg* BRUSSELS | 5 March 2026 (IDN) — In the Western world today, there are an alarming number of politicians and media outlets that justify or even welcome military action by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Driven by the self-righteousness we are so familiar with, […]
Trump and Netanyahu Are Chasing an Illusion in Iran
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 5 March 2026 (IDN) — Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have launched a campaign against Iran with maximalist aims and minimalist means. They speak the language of regime change, but the political, military, and social preconditions are not present. The result will not be transformation in Tehran, but a […]
Europe Confronts a World Without Guarantees
The Merz Doctrine, and the Cost of Strategic Adulthood This article first appeared on https://rjaura.substack.com By Ramesh Jaura* BERLIN | 1 March 2026 (IDN) — For nearly eight decades, Europe thrived under the sturdy canopy of a security order that felt immovable. The United States was the bedrock of NATO, its power a shield against […]
A ‘Wrecking-ball’ Smashing the International Order
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK | 19 February 2026 (IDN) — The 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC), held from February 13–15 in Munich, Germany, convened global leaders at a moment of mounting geopolitical strain. Long regarded as a premier forum for international security dialogue, this year’s conference unfolded against the backdrop of what its organizers […]
Iran, War, and the Illusion of Control
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 18 February 2026 (IDN) — As U.S.–Iran negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program continue under the shadow of possible military action, both Washington and Tehran must weigh carefully the potentially catastrophic regional consequences of failure. If Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convinced President Trump during their recent meeting that now is […]
Human Rights and the U.S. Presidency
By Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden | 18 February 2026 (IDN) — Jimmy Carter liked to think of himself as a human rights president. Many of us believed he heralded a new spring. Spring is coming again now. Snowdrops and crocuses are pushing through the frost; daffodils are preparing to bloom; trees along the Potomac will […]