Category Archives: Middle East

Syria, Libya And The Endor Problem

Posted on Aug 24, 2013 by NFB

Note: I say “we” a lot in these kinds of posts, for convenience more than anything. It should be taken to mean “the West”, as in the general “Western World” of which Ireland is a small, but legitimate, part. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Libya, Middle East, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Thoughts On “Pillar Of Defence”

Posted on Nov 15, 2012 by NFB

On Wednesday I was so wrapped up in Irish news that I missed Israel re-starting large-scale military operations in Gaza. The following is an expanded version of my thoughts that I shared on social media throughout yesterday, so forgive me … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Third Presidential Debate

Posted on Oct 23, 2012 by NFB

So, third debate time, after the first and second. This is primarily a foreign policy debate and follows much the same rules as the first debate a few weeks ago. Romney needs something out of this. The polls are stabilising, … Continue reading →

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Six Days By Jeremy Bowen

Posted on Oct 12, 2012 by NFB

I finished this a few weeks ago, so I’d like to offer my brief thoughts on the book and the Six Day War in general. On the book: -It’s a decent read, overall, not too biased towards either side which … Continue reading →

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Libya: The Dangers Of Intervention And Free Speech

Posted on Sep 13, 2012 by NFB

It may seem like I only discuss Libya when something bad happens. In that regard, I can only plead my subsistence on what I get to read on a daily basis. A country struggling to exert control after a somewhat … Continue reading →

Posted in Libya, Middle East, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Stupidest Thing I’ve Read This Week (13/5/12)

Posted on May 13, 2012 by NFB

Third place this week goes to Fox News, and the initial headline they put up in response to President Obama’s declaration regards gay marriage. They altered it pretty quickly. I’m not sure why they did, considering how the first headline … Continue reading →

Posted in Counter Insurgency (COIN), Middle East, Politics, Stupidest Thing, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Israel And Douhet

Posted on Mar 21, 2012 by NFB

A fascinating piece by Jeffrey Goldberg on Bloomberg about Israeli expectations of war with Iran. Especially of note is this paragraph: A widely held assumption about a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities is that it would spur Iranian citizens … Continue reading →

Posted in Middle East, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I’m A Racist…Nah

Posted on Jul 23, 2011 by NFB

I’d like to add an addendum to my post about the Oslo terror attacks from yesterday. Firstly, the spiking death toll is utterly shocking. Secondly, while I did not definitively state my opinion that an Islamic extremist group was behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Middle East, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‎”I Dag Er Vi Alle Norske.”

Posted on Jul 22, 2011 by NFB

Firstly, my sympathies and my condemnations. Secondly, to address something I’m seeing all over: this attack was almost certainly not motivated by the publication of the Muhammad cartoons that caused such a well-publicised ruckus the other year. While that might be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Middle East, War | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

MV Saoirse: “ISRAAEEELLLLLL!”

Posted on Jun 30, 2011 by NFB

She ain’t going nowhere soon, and certainly not Gaza. Of course, there is only one suspect, and while my slightly pro-Israeli feelings prompt me to give out a smug “Prove It!”, I will bow to the inevitable: Israel, or rather, someone … Continue reading →

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