Iran and Russia have made no secret of their mutual desire to sideline the United States in the Middle East. "Our cooperation can isolate America," Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Vladimir Putin during the Russian president's recent visit to Tehran. Mr Putin, for his part, has praised the Moscow-Tehran relationship as "very productive". Certainly the alliance has paid dividends in Syria, where the Moscow-Tehran military collaboration turned the tide of the war in favour of their mutual ally Bashar al-Assad and compelled the United States to abandon its goal of forcing Mr Assad from power. Nevertheless, while Washington should certainly be wary of the Russian-Iranian relationship, it is less a strategic alliance than a marriage of convenience -- and one whose cracks are already showing.In Syria, the ousting of the Islamic State (IS) seems to have underscored important differences in the goals and tactics of Mr Putin and Mr Khameini. Moscow's ultimate objectives include … [Read more...] about Russia-Iran alliance cracks open options for Trump
Russia
Trump walks back his willingness to testify in the Russia investigation
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “we’ll see what happens” in response to a question about whether he would sit down for an interview with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigation Russian election interference. The comment marks a departure from what Trump said last June, which is that he would be “100 percent” open to testifying in the Russia investigation. The comments come amid reports that Trump’s legal team is preparing a response to a possible interview request from Mueller’s team. President Donald Trump said during a joint press conference with the Norwegian prime minister on Wednesday that he would “see what happens” if he were asked to interview with special counsel Robert Mueller. Fox News White House correspondent John Roberts asked Trump about recent reports that his legal team is working out how to respond to Mueller’s … [Read more...] about Trump walks back his willingness to testify in the Russia investigation
Olympics opinion: North Korea yes, Russia no
The North Koreans are coming, a surprising development that adds a bit of intrigue to the Winter Olympics. The Russians are coming, too, and probably in greater numbers than most suspected in the wake of an official ban for running a doping scheme that made a mockery out of the last games in Sochi.No, they won't wear Russian uniforms, and the country's medal count won't be tallied on the big board in Pyeongchang. There will be no playing of the Russian national anthem should they win gold medals, which they surely will.Yes, the Russians will be in South Korea, despite an official ban of the country from the Olympics. The only real question now is how many cheaters will be among them.Forty-two of the 43 Russian athletes given lifetime Olympic bans for doping at the 2014 Winter Games have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hoping still to be allowed to compete at next month's Olympics. Their appeals have been fast-tracked, with the cases to be heard beginning Jan. 22 with … [Read more...] about Olympics opinion: North Korea yes, Russia no
Trump’s personal attorney slaps BuzzFeed with a lawsuit for publishing Trump-Russia dossier
Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, has reportedly filed a defamation suit against BuzzFeed for publishing the unsubstantiated collection of memos known as the Trump-Russia dossier last year. Cohen is also reportedly suing Fusion GPS – the intelligence firm that commissioned the research into the alleged ties between Trump and Russia – and its cofounder, Glenn Simpson. President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, has reportedly filed a defamation suit against BuzzFeed after the news outlet published the unsubstantiated collection of memos known as the Trump-Russia dossier last year, according to Bloomberg News. Cohen is also reportedly suing Fusion GPS – the intelligence firm that commissioned the research into the alleged ties between Trump and Russia – and its cofounder, Glenn Simpson, Bloomberg reported. “It will be proven that I had no involvement in … [Read more...] about Trump’s personal attorney slaps BuzzFeed with a lawsuit for publishing Trump-Russia dossier
Trump unloads on Russia investigation, libel laws, and explosive new tell-all book during press conference
President Donald Trump railed against former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and Michael Wolff, the author of an explosive new book about the inner workings of the White House. Trump said Wolff did not know him at all, and that “Sloppy Steve” gave him access to the White House. He also reiterated his past claim that there was “no collusion” with Russia and added that everything he did was “100% proper.” Trump then accused former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton of colluding with the Russians. President Donald Trump unloaded on the Russia investigation and Michael Wolff, the author of an explosive new tell-all book during a press conference with reporters at Camp David on Saturday. In the book, former White House chief strategist and head of Breitbart News, Steve Bannon, is quoted eviscerating Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., his daughter Ivanka Trump, … [Read more...] about Trump unloads on Russia investigation, libel laws, and explosive new tell-all book during press conference