Mark Leon Goldberg | Podcast Host, Author, Editor

Talking Iran Diplomacy…Join Us Tonight

I am moderating a conference call about Iran diplomacy, with former US Ambassador to the UN Thomas Pickering and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Dean Dr. Vali Nasr. The call is being hosted by the United Nations Association of the United States at 6pm EST tonight. You are invited!

Top of the Morning: IAEA Announces Potential Iran Nuclear Agreement; Syria Spilling Over to Lebanon

Little Comfort for Mali’s Refugees in Bleak Burkina Faso

The UN Refugee Agency estimates that there are about 60,000 Malian refugees spread out across multiple sites – formal and informal – in northern Burkina Faso. A special guest post from Refugees International.

Expanding NATO

One thing that will not be decided on in Chicago today is expanding NATO membership. Four countries have been on the short-list since 2008: Macedonia, Georgia, Montenegro and Bosnia and the Chicago Summit's outcome document is full of supportive words for their membership, but no action.

Top of the Morning: Huge Suicide Attack in Yemen; NATO Foiled over Supply Routes; Pakistan #Twitterfail

When the Geo-Politics of Syria or Iran Intervention Get Real

Medvedev's words ought to be read as a warning to people here in the USA or its allies causually toss around the idea of invading Syria or bombing Iran. Such actions do not happen in a vacuum, and could have far reaching geopolitical consequences.

President Obama Speaking on Food Security At G8 Launch Event

As host of this week's G-8 meeting, President Obama gets to set certain thematic and action oriented program items. All day today, there is a forum on food security being hosted in Washington, DC with a rotating roster of heads of state, diplomats and experts in the field. President Obama will address the forum at around 10 am.