Headlines

Iran is what happens when leaders ignore their spies

Intelligence agencies are often blamed when the use of military force has an unexpected or negative outcome. Pundits often argue leaders end up in difficult situations because they are not fully informed, or intelligence agencies got it wrong. Of course, analysis is sometimes

Trump’s 15-point plan signals deep fear of losing the war

The language of power often reveals more than it intends. In a rare moment of candor on March 7, US President Donald Trump described the confrontation with Iran as “a big chess game at a very high level … I’m dealing with very smart players … high-level intellect. High, very

Why the Iran war is crashing gold prices

Gold has long enjoyed a reputation as a financial “safe haven” during stormy times. But over the past few months of geopolitical chaos and market panic, the precious metal has moved more like a roller coaster than a steady ship at anchor. In late January, the gold price surged

Crude realities: a knife to the world’s energy jugular

The furnaces at Vaikunth Dham, the largest crematorium in India’s Maharashtra state, have gone quiet. The operators only had enough liquified petroleum(natural) gas (LNG) for a few more cremations. From here on out, the dead would be cremated by electricity or by wood. It was a