Paul Iddon

Erbil

Freelance Journalist and Columnist at Freelance

I write about stuff that interests me … mostly Middle East affairs, history, politics. Regular contributor to @BusinessInsider @forbes @The_NewArab & more

Articles

Forbes JAPAN 公式サイト（フォーブスジャパン）

2 days ago | forbesjapan.com | Paul Iddon

トップ経済・社会北米総費用約64億円のトランプの米首都軍事パレード、過去の例でも同様の批判戦車やヘリコプターを披露し、何千人もの兵士が行進するという、米首都ワシントンDCで間もなく開催される大規模な軍事パレードがある程度の優雅さと威厳に欠けていることは間違いない。やり過ぎであり、かつあまりに費用のかかるものだ。特に、開催に必要な多額の予算を緊急性の高い別のことに使うことができると考えるとなおさらだ。加えて、軍事パレードは民主的な国というより独裁政権によくあるイメージを思い起こさせる。そしてワシントンの通りはかなりの重量がある装甲車が走ることを想定して造られていない。 6月14日に予定されているドナルド・トランプ大統領の軍事パレードは陸軍創設250周年を祝うもので、偶然にもトランプの誕生日に行われる。このパレードに照らせば、上記の批判は今現在のものに聞こえる。だが、34年前の同じ6月にワシントンで軍事パレードが行われた際も同じような意見が国内のメディアでみられた。...
Criticisms Of Trump’s Washington Military Parade Are Not Unprecedented

4 days ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

M1A1 Abraham tanks parade down Constitution avenue in a victory parade in the nation's capital to ... More honor troops that served in the 1991 Gulf War. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)Bettmann ArchiveHolding a large military parade in Washington, DC, featuring tanks, helicopters, and thousands of troops marching arguably lacks a certain level of grace and dignity.
Lee Thiam Wah

4 days ago | forbes.com | Adam Zagoria |Paul Iddon |Joan MacDonald |Erik Kain

After a stint with the Royal Malaysia Police, Tan Boon Hock, who makes his debut in the ranks at No. 40 with $490 million, worked as an engineer then started his own electrical contracting firm in 1984.
Trump 'open' to meeting Ukraine, Russia leaders for truce push

4 days ago | newarab.com | Paul Iddon

US President Donald Trump is "open" to meeting his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Turkey, the White House said, after the two sides failed on Monday to make headway towards an elusive ceasefire. Delegations from both sides did, however, agree another large-scale prisoner exchange in their meeting in Istanbul, which in mid-May also hosted their first round of face-to-face talks.
Middle Eastern Precedents To Ukraine’s Landmark Drone Strikes

5 days ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

While Ukraine’s June 1 coordinated drone strikes on Russian airbases were truly unprecedented, it was in many ways inevitable. Several incidents in the Middle East in recent years served as demonstrations of how relatively inexpensive drones could fundamentally change the nature of modern wars.
What An Israeli Strike On Iran’s Nuclear Sites Might Look Like

1 week ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Israel is reportedly planning to launch long-range strikes against Iran’s nuclear program if the current nuclear talks with the United States collapse. Such a move could have grave ramifications for the stability of the region, which experienced two Iranian and Israeli attacks and counterattacks in 2024.
Israel Going It Alone Against Houthis In Yemen With Long-Range Strikes

1 week ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Israel carried out its latest airstrikes against Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday, its second long-range attack targeting infrastructure controlled by the Houthis since the U.S. ended its two-month air campaign against the group in early May.
Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase In Syria Is Extremely Vulnerable

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

The Russian military leased Hmeimim airbase in western Syria’s coastal Latakia province faced its deadliest attack since the December 2024 fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on May 20. While much remains unclear about this particular attack, it has aptly demonstrated the increasingly vulnerable position of Russia’s sole airbase in the Middle East.
New And Old Systems Will Reinforce Lowest Tier Of Israel’s Air Defense

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Israel recently revived an air defense battalion operating vintage surface-to-air systems it retired over 20 years ago as a solution for countering persistent drone threats. At the same time, it expects to introduce the brand-new Iron Beam laser system into service by the end of this year. Together, these new and old systems will reinforce the lowest tier of Israel’s multilayered air defense, already one of the most sophisticated in the world.
Trump's $142 billion arms deal may not get the Saudis the F-35 stealth fighter

3 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Sam Fellman |Paul Iddon |Henry Blodget

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump signed what the White House described as "the largest defense sales agreement in history," valued at almost $142 billion, that will provide the kingdom "state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services." The offer, the final value of which may ultimately prove much less than $142 billion, is expected to include Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and other unspecified missiles and radars.