Saudi Arabia Steps Up U.S. Lobbying Efforts

Riyadh’s hiring binge comes as disagreements over Iran have caused the deepest strains to US-Saudi ties since the days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Julian Pecquet for Al-Monitor
By Julian Pecquet for Al-Monitor

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 2nd right first row, poses with Shura members in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s lobbying efforts are getting a high-tech boost from some of America’s most politically well-connected consulting firms amid growing tensions with Iran. The kingdom’s main public relations firm,

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Obama Prepares For Showdown With Congress Over Iran Deal

“If Congress kills this deal […] then it’s the United States that will be blamed for the failure of diplomacy.” — U.S. President Barack Obama

Jasmin Ramsey
By Jasmin Ramsey

Sen. Bob Corker (R- Tenn.) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), respectively the chair and ranking member the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. When it comes to sabotaging nuclear talks with Iran, experts warn there is a strong strain of bipartisanship. WASHINGTON - Two days after the deadline for reaching a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme

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The New American Order

1% Elections, The Privatization of the State, a Fourth Branch of Government, and the Demobilization of “We the People”

Tom Engelhardt
By Tom Engelhardt
Ferguson Nationwide Protests

James Cartmill holds an American flag while protesting in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, after the announcement that a grand jury decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old. Have you ever undertaken some task you felt less than qualified for, but knew

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Survey: Americans Have Record Low Confidence In Their Government

Americans’ confidence in all three branches of government is at or near record lows, according to a major survey that has measured attitudes on the subject for 40 years.

Emily Swanson
By Emily Swanson
American flag

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 2014 General Social Survey finds only 23 percent of Americans have a great deal of confidence in the Supreme Court, 11 percent in the executive branch and 5 percent in Congress. By contrast, half have a great deal of confidence in the military. The survey is conducted by the independent research organization NORC at the

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GOP Senators Threaten To Derail US-Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Letter says deal would be merely an agreement between President Obama and Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pictured center, postponed action on legislation that would give Congress a vote on any deal that emerges with Iran. AP Photo. Though the five-paragraph letter is addressed to leaders in Tehran, it seems as much aimed at delivering a message to Obama. Republicans and some Democrats want Congress to vote on any

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Here’s A Word Cloud For Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech To Congress

Iran. Nuclear. Deal. Israel.

Timothy McGrath
By Timothy McGrath
bibbi_word_cloud_congress_2015_3_2

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a long-awaited and controversial speech before both houses of the United States Congress on Tuesday, and it was a doozy. Bibi's been beating the drum about a nuclear Iran for as long as he's been prime minister, and his congressional speech was like a super aggressive drum solo interrupted by

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