US President Joe Biden on November 17, 2023, in San Francisco, California. (Credit: Brendan Smialowski /AFP)
A regional war as a "farewell gift?" — With the U.S. presidential election fast approaching, President Joe Biden may well leave office amidst a total conflagration in the Middle East. Admittedly, this was the scenario he wanted to avoid at all costs. However, the Tuesday evening Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Fouad Shukur, Hezbollah's military commander, followed by the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political wing, in Tehran a few hours later, seem to be reshuffling the cards once again.Since Oct. 7, the Biden administration has faced an increasingly complex strategic puzzle. Internally, a significant portion of the Democratic Party base is critical of the United States' unwavering support for Israel in its deadly war against Gaza — in light of the risk of genocide charges recognized by...
A regional war as a "farewell gift?" — With the U.S. presidential election fast approaching, President Joe Biden may well leave office amidst a total conflagration in the Middle East. Admittedly, this was the scenario he wanted to avoid at all costs. However, the Tuesday evening Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Fouad Shukur, Hezbollah's military commander, followed by the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas' political wing, in Tehran a few hours later, seem to be reshuffling the cards once again.Since Oct. 7, the Biden administration has faced an increasingly complex strategic puzzle. Internally, a significant portion of the Democratic Party base is critical of the United States' unwavering support for Israel in its deadly war against Gaza — in light of the risk of genocide charges...