The Biggest Middle East Wild Card – Iran
Author: Greg Valliere
October 16, 2023
THE RADICAL REGIME IN TEHRAN fanned the flames, cheering the Hamas savagery while accusing Israel of seeking “genocide” by enforcing a siege against the Gaza Strip. Iran’s radical ayatollahs said that an attack on Gaza would “open new fronts of resistance” in the Middle East.
“IF THE ZIONISTS do not stop their crimes and criminal attacks on the people of Gaza, no one can guarantee that the war will not spread across the region,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
AS IRAN RATCHETS UP ITS RHETORIC and a massive Israeli military advance looms, one other huge geopolitical story seems to be fading from view. “In Kyiv, Growing Concerns That Allies’ Support Has Peaked,” the New York Times reported yesterday in a lengthy piece that reported on faltering morale in Ukraine.
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HOUSE MINORITY LEADER Hakim Jefferies dropped a bombshell yesterday — Democrats have participated in “informal conversations” on a bipartisan House leadership structure. “We have made clear, publicly and privately, that we are ready, willing and able to enter into a bipartisan governing coalition,” Jefferies said.
STILL ANOTHER HOUSE VOTE is scheduled for tomorrow, although a new speaker doesn’t appear to be imminent; the fiercely partisan Jim Jordan still doesn’t appear to have enough votes. Could the Democrats cobble together enough votes from both parties to produce a bipartisan coalition? Doubtful but not totally out of the question.
WITHOUT A BIPARTISAN ARRANGEMENT, it’s possible that the dysfunctional House will be unable to pass a budget by the Nov. 17 deadline, or approve military aid for Israel or Ukraine.
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