Foreign Policy Blogs

Archive | May, 2009

U.N. team to examine Israeli war crimes in Gaza

A U.N. human rights team is scheduled to visit the Gaza Strip during the weekend to investigate Israeli conduct during the Gaza offensive in December.

South African Judge Richard Gladstone, the former chief prosecutor with the international tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, leads …

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H1N1: Trends & Lessons, Part II

Over the past month, Mexico has demonstrated why it is not a failed state.

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Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

This blog has also been posted in FPA’s Latin America Blog.
Mexico in 2009 has become the recipient of at least half of the most famous biblical plagues starting in 2008. This past week brought yet another earthquake to Mexico, the second this month that received some media coverage …

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Russia's 'Extremist' Double-Standard

Russia's 'Extremist' Double-Standard

Yesterday, a Moscow court slapped the wrists of ultranationalist leader Alexander Belov with an 18 month suspended sentence for hate speech at a rally of his Movement Against Illegal Immigration.
Belov, whose name fittingly means ‘White’, agitates to cleanse the country of non-Slavs under the slogan of ‘Russia …

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Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

Is Criticism of Mexico Warranted??

Mexico in 2009 has become the recipient of at least half of the most famous biblical plagues starting in 2008. This past week brought yet another earthquake to Mexico, the second this month that received some media coverage outside the country. In addition to a full scale drug war, H1N1 …

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Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (Nuclear power edition.)

The “NY Times” reports today on the massive cost overruns of a nuclear power plant at Olkiluoto in Finland and, in the end, the uncertainty of the date of its completion, testing and operation – if ever.  The article reports that the difficulties with this flagship in …

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U.S. Fiscal Discipline; Environmental Rules for Outbound Investments

Geithner to reassure China on U.S. fiscal discipline

On his trip to China next week, U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner will try to reassure Chinese leaders on U.S. fiscal discipline. Promising to promote U.S. national savings and to reduce national debt, Mr. Geithner hopes to ease Beijing’s …

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Poverty erodes human rights

Poverty erodes human rights


Yesterday, Amnesty International released their global survey report on the state of human rights around the world.  Iren Khan, Sec-Gen of Amnesty, made a salient observation when she attended a high-level meeting in New York on MDGs last September. 
Countries are hard pressed to back up their rhetoric …

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Superpower Lessons

Superpower Lessons


Arvind Subramanian, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Center for Global Development, published a good commentary in the Business Standard arguing that India can learn from China’s strong public finances –  a sound fiscal position is crucial for establishing international …

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Cuba blocks thorough review of Sri Lanka

Cuba blocks thorough review of Sri Lanka

As expected, Cuba’s seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council has already become an obstacle to the process of investigation and recognition of gross human rights offenses. Yesterday Cuba succeeded in blocking debate on abuses in Sri Lanka, which many countries have pushed for after the …

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The Child Trade…For Sale or Barter

The Child Trade…For Sale or Barter

What do you sell when you have nothing left to sell, you have no money, no food, little water, and no prospects of employment? The future looks bleak and so you sell the only thing you have left…your own child! For if you cannot sale one child then how can …

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Today in Papers

Where are Muslim countries in Pakistan’s hour of need?

Four blasts kill at least 10, hurt over 80 in northwest

Petraeus paid secret visit to Islamabad

Death toll from Lahore car bomb attack rises to 26

Timeline: Terror attacks …

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How Should the U.S. Respond to North Korea?

A quick recap for those just joining us: On October 6, 2006 North Korea exploded its first nuclear weapon. This past week, it conducted an underground nuclear test and

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The U.S. Foreign Offices

We often get reminders that a new Administration in Washington means new leadership at U.S. Embassies overseas.  Within a year of taking office, an incoming President generally will have nominated (and the Senate approved) new Ambassadors for all major overseas postings.  In many foreign government establishments, these appointments are highly …

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Meetings – Late Spring '09 Edition

Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate – After the second of four meetings scheduled to take place among the world’s major economies – all major contributors to global warming – the participants announced progress on finance.  The 2nd MEF meeting took place this week in Paris.  (See

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