L. Todd Wood

L. TODD WOOD: Do you remember?

While conducting some reporting on the former Soviet Union, I recently had the distinct pleasure of being invited to a free jazz, big band concert in Moscow, held during one of many music festivals

L. TODD WOOD: The rockets from Gaza begin again

To continue on our reporting on terrorist violence in Israel, spurred by the lack of American leadership in the Middle East, on Friday the first rocket in months from Gaza landed in Israel. It seems Hamas, which controls the territory, has decided to get involved in the outbreak of attacks on Jews in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the Jewish State.

L. TODD WOOD: Terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and greater Israel explode

We wrote here last week about the possibility of a significant increase in violence against Israel as the Obama administration leaves the Middle East to the clutches of the new axis of Russia, Iran and the Assad regime in Syria. The only real democracy in the region is left to fend for itself.

L. TODD WOOD: Britain deploys troops to Baltics, boosts Ukrain presence

L. TODD WOOD: Russia, Iran planned Syria assault during nuclear talks

The situation on the ground in Syria for the Assad regime had been deteriorating for some time as rebel forces advanced and inflicted significant losses on Syrian government forces, threatening Russia's naval base in Tartus and Iran's influence in the region.

L. TODD WOOD: Adm. Scott Swift, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, warns of all out war

The U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, Adm. Scott Swift, while speaking to the Pacific 2015 expo in Sydney, Australia, has warned of all out war in the Pacific if regional powers do not respect freedom of the seas and international law.

L. TODD WOOD: Vladimir Putin, the chess master

For sometime, I have been saying the last few years of the Obama administration would be a very dangerous time for America and the world because of the complete abdication of American leadership on the global stage. Now, it is coming true due to the mastery of the great game by Vladimir Putin.

L. TODD WOOD: America’s weakness endangering Mideast

Put yourself in the shoes of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

L. TODD WOOD: Russian media mentions Assad may step down

Russian state media has been working overtime since the start of the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war.

L. TODD WOOD: The communists among us

OK, watch out! Incoming! I'm going to let them have it, full bore. Having just spent a month in the former Soviet Union, specifically Russia and Ukraine, I'm going to say some things that many Americans won't want to hear. But these things need to be said. As the old saying goes, truth is the best medicine.

L. TODD WOOD: Ukraine hopes Russia joins debt deal

After completing a grueling debt renegotiation with its international creditors, Ukraine still has a large mountain to climb solving the problem of the $3 billion bond with Russia.

L. TODD WOOD: War Is ending in Ukraine

Pro-Russian rebel forces and the Ukrainian government have signed an agreement to withdraw weapons under 100mm caliber from the contact line in East Ukraine. I have met with and spoken with Ukrainian military sources here in Mariupol and can confirm this is beginning to happen. This development effectively ends the armed portion of the conflict in East Ukraine between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists for the time being.

L. TODD WOOD: Putin building air-defense wall in Mideast

In air defense terms, it's called anti-access/area denial, or A2/AD in Pentagon speak.

North Korean defector: ‘Regime will collapse within 10 years’

According to a recent defector from the hermit regime of North Korea, Kim Jong-un's brutal purge of the elite upper-echelon ranks within the Stalinist state has weakened his support among those in power and the people themselves.

L. TODD WOOD: ISIS planning ‘nuclear tsunami’

Nuclear annihilation across the globe. This is what a German reporter who successfully embedded with the Islamic State says the terror group is planning.

L. TODD WOOD: Putin: Breakup of USSR a great tragedy for Russians

TASS, the Russian state news service reported today on Vladimir Putin's comments to Charlie Rose in an interview held in the United States prior to Mr. Putin's speech to the United Nations.

L. TODD WOOD: Can this man save Ukraine?

Svitlana meets me at the building entrance, sharply dressed and professional. I find out later that she is a volunteer, hoping to earn a position at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

L. TODD WOOD: Obama to get Mideast marching orders from Putin

Now that President Obama has abdicated American leadership in the Middle East and wasted thousands of lives and a trillion dollars in the process, he has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his upcoming trip to New York City for a speech at the United Nations.

L. TODD WOOD: Putin building 2nd military base on Ukraine border

The Russian Federation is building a second huge military base near its border with East Ukraine.

Ayatollah talks tough: Lift Iran sanctions or ‘no deal’

Iran, it seems, has no intention of living up to the nuclear deal that the Obama administration negotiated with the international community.