In spite of much angry public protest in Damascus, last months killing of top al-Qaida operative Abu Ghadiya, was in fact a joint operation between U.S. Special Forces in Iraq and Syrian intelligence, according to former and serving U.S. intelligence officials.

The crimes committed against innocent people in Darfur represent a shameful episode in the history of Sudan and its neighbors, including Chad, which has played a dubious role in sustaining the seething conflict. Equally disgraceful is the politicizing of the bloody conflict in ways that will ensure its continuation.

High-level international talks over Tehrans disputed nuclear program ended inconclusively on July 19. Those talks in Geneva focused on an updated package of incentives offered by the six world powers to Tehran in order to breathe life into the deadlocked talks. Iran now faces the following alternative: It must cooperate with advanced nuclear powers offering such cooperation; or it will inevitably face all-out political isolation.