Defying the Powers-That-Be

Using Lebanon as a bargaining chip through Washington’s Israeli proxy is Trump’s way of leveling the playing field.

Trump’s willingness to defend an ally may depend upon whether he currently gets along with its political leadership.

The challenge for Washington is no longer whether it possesses sufficient capabilities, but whether the political system can align those capabilities behind a coherent long-term priority.

[T]he United States had itself rendered that alliance network more fragile.

[I]t is difficult to see how the Gulf nations would agree to sign the Abraham Accords and how the Accords could be a precondition to peace with Iran.