Chicken

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and President Obama are playing chicken by taking unmovable stands imposing costs on the other side in the expectation that the other side will avoid the costs by reversing course. Karzai says he will not sign the agreement negotiated with the United States unless Washington agrees to stop house searches and to facilitate negotiations with the Taliban. The Obama administration says negotiations are through, and without a signature by December 31, American forces will leave at the end of 2014.November 29, 2013

Solution

Both Karzai and Obama will likely find a way to finesse the impasse. Washington could indicate that it has no plans to raid homes and could indicate it has always been open to Taliban diplomacy. Karzai, under pressure by the recent loya Jirga, could accept these clarifications and sign. November 29, 2013

Commentary on the Iran Deal

November 29, 2013

Nicholas Berry

The P5+1 agreement signed last week with Iran is a singular achievement of President Barak Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry. They understand that real changes are underway in Iran, that an agreement ensuring that the Islamic Republic would not go nuclear was possible, even likely, that questions could be probed secretly in Oman, and that a willingness to treat Iran as a credible diplomatic negotiator would increase the chances of making a good deal.  ...more

Nuclear Deal Will Define Future Iran

November 27, 2013

Trita Parsi

Whether by design or accident, the nuclear deal struck in Geneva this past weekend is about far more than centrifuges, enrichment and breakout times.

Ultimately, the success of the nuclear negotiations will help determine who and what will define Iran for the next few decades....more

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