If the President Donald Trump administration were really serious about Iran, that would be the overwhelming priority, and it wouldn't have granted waivers to eight countries allowing them to import Iranian oil, i think this is a question of one hand not knowing what the other hand is doing.

Aaron David Miller

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The road to national rebirth is a hard one, but there is no other.

Aaron David Miller

rebirth mind-blowing mind

Time, the ultimate arbiter of what is of value in life.

Aaron David Miller

ultimate arbiter value-of-life

Together, these advocates create a pro-Israeli case so compelling that the idea and reality of Israel has worked itself deep into American culture, politics and foreign policy. Many American Jews refuse to accept it, but the real debate between Israel’s supporters and detractors in America is all but over.

Aaron David Miller

real america ideas

I've never seen anything like it, frankly, with respect to bipartisan consensus.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

President Donald Trump did this primarily for reasons of President Donald Trump own domestic politics.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

This is completely out of sequence because the Israeli-Palestinian issue is primarily driven by historical wounds and overlapping claims to land and sacred space.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

The President has demonstrated a preternatural risk-aversion when it comes to use of military force and wants to get out of unwinnable old wars and not get into new ones, in contrast, John Bolton has been a hawk on Iran John Bolton entire professional life.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

Mike Pompeo has been very tough on Iran publicly and as secretary of state would manage the negotiations if there were any, but Mike Pompeo'd unlikely push back hard against those who were recommending a military strike. In the end, the biggest constraint against one is The President The President.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

It's very important, the King has a fundamental stake in making sure that whatever Jared Kushner is proposing doesn't expose Jared Kushner.

Aaron David Miller

politics

If the political part of this plan turns out to be a betrayal of the Palestinian narrative, it exposes Abdullah in a way that no other Arab leader is exposed.

Aaron David Miller

politics

MBS believes President Donald Trump has President Donald Trump back. There's not a shred of empirical evidence to suggest that President Donald Trump doesn't.

Aaron David Miller

politics

If Saudi Arabia kidnapped or killed Jamal Kashoggi, Saudi Arabia's on them, there's no direct causality, but the question remains, to what degree the Donald Trump administration's acquiescence to Saudi Arabia emboldened the Saudi leadership to think it can do what it likes, both in repressing dissent at home and pursuing policies abroad that frankly in my judgment... have been undermining Aaron David Miller national interests.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

This is not the first administration to have enabled Saudi Arabia and given them wide berth, it's just that Bruce Riedel have a senior Saudi leadership that has been uncharacteristically risk-ready and frankly reckless.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

And that ensures virtually no deal and the likelihood of violence over Jerusalem in the future.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

This agreement is highly flawed but it is functional.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

This might be the case where Trump applies a little honey now to show the Israelis he’s the most pro-Israel president ever, and then applies a little vinegar later.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

Someone clearly saw the Vatican, Israel and Saudi Arabia as a broad stage where the President could demonstrate a certain degree of unity and ecumenism and go to places where he could be guaranteed a high degree of symbolism when it came to his first presidential trip, the trip provides a dramatic stage on which to act out his presidential role.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

I don't think there are any traps that will be set, the question is whether he generates them on his own. And gets out of his own way. And there's no way to predict that. As carefully orchestrated and choreographed as these trips may be, there's always the possibility of a stumble or an inappropriate remark.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

There's no school for president, the issue for me is, is Aaron David Miller learning ? That's the key question.

Aaron David Miller

top-news

Whatever the aspirations on the campaign trail, they have given way to the realities of what it takes to conduct American foreign policy in a cruel and unforgiving world, the way this administration does business is highly unorthodox in so many respects.

Aaron David Miller

politics