October 9, 2014 Regardless as to the US-led airstrikes which began several weeks ago, ISIS remains on the march. As I write this, the strategic town of Kobani, on Syria’s border with Turkey, is under siege. It seems likely now that Kobani will fall to ISIS - and Turkey seems to sit on the border with … Continue reading The ISIS Threat: As Viewed from Neighboring Lebanon
Tag: Syria
Lebanon: Caught in Syria’s War
March 13, 2014Lebanon is complicated. There’s no other way to describe it. Walking down busy Hamra Street you will see miniskirts and hijabs side by side. Lebanon has 19 official religions. There’s the Lebanese army and then there is Hezbollah. The Lebanese coalition government finally put its pieces in place, but new elections are “scheduled” … Continue reading Lebanon: Caught in Syria’s War
2013 End of Year List: Part One
December 24, 2013 We’re getting ready to say goodbye to the year 2013. I’ve always liked the end of a year. It provides a chance to think, to reflect and to evaluate. All good things, in my thinking, anyway. So, I’m dedicating my last two blogs of 2013 to my list of random things from … Continue reading 2013 End of Year List: Part One
Global Update by the Numbers
Every now and again, it’s interesting to take a raw look at the numbers of the world - and what those numbers might mean. So here’s my first-ever “Global Update by the Numbers.” 7.18 Billion: Current global population - world population reached 7 billion on October 31, 2011. Meaning: There are lots of people around! … Continue reading Global Update by the Numbers
“Jumping Shadows and Training Leaders” The Global Next Oxford Conference
I just finished a week in England with 42 student leaders and educators at our “Jump Your Shadow” Conference, held at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University. As always, it was an amazing time of seeing the world, stretching the way people think about leadership and interacting with the world that exists outside one’s comfort zone. … Continue reading “Jumping Shadows and Training Leaders” The Global Next Oxford Conference
Syrian President Assad: Brilliant Politician
(Photo by Spencer Irvine) How do you wage a civil war, get accused of using chemical weapons on your citizens, avoid a US military strike, admit that you actually have chemical weapons, sit for two US televised interviews and pretty much guarantee that you’ll stay in power? Ask Mr. Bashar al-Assad - because that’s exactly … Continue reading Syrian President Assad: Brilliant Politician
Guns, Violence and Distractions
A gunman opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, September 16th. Thirteen people are dead - including the gunman. At least eight others were injured. Aaron Alexis, from Fort Worth, Texas was identified as the gunman. It’s been reported that he was a Navy reservist, but had been discharged for a pattern of … Continue reading Guns, Violence and Distractions
Benghazi: One Year Out
It’s the 12th anniversary of 9/11 - a dozen years have passed. 9/11 has definitively changed the world and the way people look at safety, security, terrorism, radicalism and how nations interact with one another and against one another. But today is also the one year anniversary of another event: The murder of US Ambassador … Continue reading Benghazi: One Year Out
Waffling on Syria
First, we have a leadership problem. Regardless as to whether or not I think military action in Syria is a good idea or not, if a president is going to make big “red-line” statements, then he should do what he says he’s going to do. Or don’t say anything. Obama said he was going to … Continue reading Waffling on Syria
Syria, Chemical Weapons and the US Response
My source inside of Syria contacted me today. He’s a Syrian journalist in Damascus covering the ongoing civil war. He doesn’t want me to use his name, but I trust his information - I’ve literally put my life in his hands when I worked on a project in Damascus back in 2009. After giving me … Continue reading Syria, Chemical Weapons and the US Response
The Global Nexter 