Foreign Policy Blogs

Archive | March, 2010

Global Pulse 2010: Online Development Dialogue

Global Pulse 2010: Online Development Dialogue

For the past three days I participated in USAID’s online dialogue about various international development topics.  Called “Global Pulse 2010, “ USAID has the following to say about it:
...a 3-day, online collaboration event, that will bring together individual socially-engaged participants and …

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The Debate on Dennis

The Debate on Dennis

There is only a handful of figures in the Israel-Palestinian conflict that have guided peace efforts and remain relevant today. Israeli President Shimon Peres helped shepherd in the Oslo accords, but remains on the outskirts of current policy efforts in his ceremonial role. The memory of former Israeli Prime Minister …

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Fox News-Russia Today: A Reply to Catherine Fitzpatrick

Fox News-Russia Today: A Reply to Catherine Fitzpatrick

Yesterday’s post comparing Russia Today to Fox News provoked an impassioned rebuttal. Russian translator, blogger and Second Life estate agent Catherine Fitzpatrick of Minding Russia berated me in a comment for ‘prettifying RT’ and ‘mislead[ing] the public’. …

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Islamic Finance, Muslim Philanthropy

Two articles have been sitting on my desk for weeks now and I’ve spent a number of afternoons mulling over what to write about them.  The first Doing God’s Work from the Wall Street Journal takes another look at the success of Islamic finance funds and ask …

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The Rio Tinto Case —When Governments Attack

Monday, the four executives, three Chinese nationals and one Australian from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto (and so dubbed The Rio Four by Mineweb) , were convicted of bribery and stealing commercial secrets after a closed, two-day trial in Shanghai. Their sentences ranged from seven to fourteen years. One defendant …

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Drik Gallery, Crossfire Show Re-opens

The High Court declared today that the provocative Crossfire Exhibition must be allowed to reopen.  Eight days after the politically charged exhibition was shut down by the police deployed to the Drik Gallery,  the High Curts decision now compels the police to withdraw, thereby …

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International donor conference for Haiti at UN

The Haitian government will present a $4 billion plan for Haiti’s reconstruction to the delegates from 120 countries meeting at the UN for an international donor conference for Haiti meeting on Wednesday, March 31st.
In the “Plan of Action” submitted by the government, some sections are dedicated to …

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Mu Sochua, Cambodia's Voice for Democracy

Mu Sochua, Cambodia's Voice for Democracy

by Jessica D’Itri
Mu Sochua, 55, the most prominent woman in Cambodia’s Sam Rainsey opposition party is on the campaign trail three years in advance of the scheduled parliamentary elections. Sochua, a human rights and women’s rights activist, faces a tough and at times vicious campaign. The Prime …

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Mountaintop Removal Mining – News from the Front

As you know if you follow the blog at all, mountaintop removal mining is right up there with tar sands extraction at the top of my list of destructive, hateful businesses.  Al Gore calls it a “despicable practice” in Our Choice.  (This, by the way, is …

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President Obama in Afghanistan: Good for the Polls and Much More

President Obama in Afghanistan: Good for the Polls and Much More

Barack Obama made his first trip to Afghanistan as president a few days ago, and during his 6 hours in the country he met with President Karzai, Gen. McChrystal, and Ambassador Eikenberry. It has been reported that Obama pressed Karzai on clamping down on corruption and that their conversations were …

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Amreeka (2009)

Amreeka (2009)

This is a charming film.
Set at the beginning of the current war in Iraq, the movie follows the lives of Palestinians Muna and her teenage son, Fadi.
The pair relocate to a small town in Illinois where they encounter obstacles to achieving their dreams.
One theme that runs throughout the movie is …

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Marines Storming Beaches of Social Networks

The Marines are onboard with this whole Social Networking thing, following along with guidelines from On High.
From Wired’s Danger Room
It’s a remarkable about-face. A Marine Corps order last summer described such sites as “a proven haven for malicious actors and content.” And it …

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Russia Today: The Kremlin's Fox News

Russia Today: The Kremlin's Fox News

They were blasts heard round the world, except on Russian TV. And in the wake of the Moscow bombs, many Russians have condemned “the near-silence of the state-controlled TV channels hours after the explosions”, according to the BBC.

One blogger, Anton Nossik, noted that a full 3 hours …

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Quid Pro Quo On Iran, Settlements

The Obama-Netanyahu scuttle continues, but the White House issued a clear statement on Iran that falls in line with the top Israeli priority. At a press conference today President Barack Obama said he would like to see new, tough sanctions on Iran “this spring,” meaning the …

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Arms Control Treaty Faces Senate Battle

Arms Control Treaty Faces Senate Battle

I’d like to follow up on my recent post regarding the new arms control treaty announced last week. As you know, the treaty will have to be approved by the U.S. Senate and given the current environment in Washington, that may prove difficult.

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