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They still want a new Cold War: What the New York Times won’t tell you about Syria, Putin and the new battle against ISIS

They still want a new Cold War: What the New York Times won’t tell you about Syria, Putin and the new battle against ISIS

November 23, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

We despise the foreign leaders a compliant media villainizes. It’s worth looking for the real motivations It is perverse to find good in the tragic events that took place in Paris 10 days ago, but they did force Washington and…

How Putin Put Obama in a Bind on Syria

How Putin Put Obama in a Bind on Syria

October 26, 2015 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

As Russia’s advance into Syria proceeds, apparently with some early successes against key targets, it starts to look as if Moscow is using the Syria crisis to force the Obama administration into a bind. On Saturday, Jordan agreed to cooperate…

Obama’s Failure in Syria Now Extends to Turkey

Obama’s Failure in Syria Now Extends to Turkey

October 12, 2015 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

The Obama administration’s failure in Syria after four years of wasted lives, money, and effort deepens by the day now. The Russians have just benched us, whether Washington wants to admit it or not, and we may well sit out the…

Obama’s Syria Strategy: ‘Scrambling’ and ‘Desperate’ as Putin Takes Charge

Obama’s Syria Strategy: ‘Scrambling’ and ‘Desperate’ as Putin Takes Charge

October 5, 2015 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

What a week for President Obama and his toe-in-the-water strategy to stabilize the riotous anarchy that is Syria. The administration can do all the papering over they wish, but there’s no obscuring the truth that just landed with a thud:…

Our monumental Turkey blunder: Who put the American exceptionalists back in charge?

Our monumental Turkey blunder: Who put the American exceptionalists back in charge?

July 28, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Take a hard, careful look at what the hawks in the Obama administration—and it is crawling with them—have just done by bringing Turkey into the fight against the Islamic State. Given the blur the campaign against ISIS has become, with…

Beyond the foreign policy lies: Our compliant media and the truth about American exceptionalism

Beyond the foreign policy lies: Our compliant media and the truth about American exceptionalism

January 1, 2015 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

A new year begins, and America must resolve to do different & better. Here’s a roadmap. It starts with clear eyes We have put away our argyle cardigans, drawn close to the fire, listened to the Crosby records, and roasted…

We are the terrorists too: Thomas Friedman and John Kerry are misleading you about the Middle East

We are the terrorists too: Thomas Friedman and John Kerry are misleading you about the Middle East

November 20, 2014 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

The New York Times and the administration are spinning post-Arab Spring era. Let’s set the facts straight At a diplomatic do in New York the other night, someone remarked that the events that broke the Middle East wide open four…

An Obama Failure with Iran Seems Inevitable

An Obama Failure with Iran Seems Inevitable

September 29, 2014 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

A year ago, under skies as sunny as we’ve had lately, Iran’s just-elected president, Hassan Rouhani, had his premiere at the United Nations and popped open the door to a settlement on his nation’s nuclear program and a cooperative relationship…

Lies the media repeats about Iraq: Phony patriotism, fake Syrian “moderates” and the very real end of empire

Lies the media repeats about Iraq: Phony patriotism, fake Syrian “moderates” and the very real end of empire

September 24, 2014 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

We have made a shocking mess in the Middle East. This new adventure sets America up for incredible decline In history there are the Punic Wars and the Opium Wars, each a turning point, and now we must talk of…

Obama’s ISIS Strategy Will Be His Jimmy Carter Moment

Obama’s ISIS Strategy Will Be His Jimmy Carter Moment

September 22, 2014 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

The Obama administration is now so tongue-tied it can’t tell us what it is about to do in the Middle East. So let’s pitch in: The Obama administration is going to war in Iraq and Syria. Having settled that, the…

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Writer, commentator, longtime newspaper and magazine correspondent abroad. Writes often on Europe and Asia. Published five books.

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