At the same June 30 regional conference of the United Russia party in Yekaterinburg where Vladimir Putin defended Russia’s growing presence in the Arctic, he spoke about his vision for developing the region. He focused on environmental restoration in the Arctic waterways and on natural gas development. First, he called for a “big cleanup” in […]
President Bush and Prime Minister Singh celebrate the U.S.-India nuclear deal Was the U.S.-India agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation worth all the trouble? How have the expansive promises touted by its champions and dire warnings issued by its critics panned out? With the approach of the six-year anniversary of the landmark July 2005 summit between […]
This month the world was shocked to learn of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ admission of being ill with cancer and his flight to Cuba to undergo an operation to remove a tumour. The weight of Mr. Chavez being ill has a great effect on Venezuela and all of Latin America because he is the voice […]
Update: Knesset passes anti-democratic BDS law, with many members absent, including Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Israel has the most vibrant democracy in the Middle East, with the Knesset (parliament) including representatives from Jews and non-Jews alike. However, once more, extremists in the Knesset are trying to use the democratic process […]
The Japan blog had been offline for several days last week due to updates to the Foreign Policy Association’s blog site. We’re up and running now. Thank you for your patience! Please take time to check out the new features, including Facebook content! Ryu Matsumoto stepped down last week from his post as reconstruction minister, […]
For over a week, the international news media has zoomed in to the Horn of Africa for two reasons; to celebrate the birth of South Sudan as a new nation and to report the resurfacing of drought in the sub region. Aid agencies have come out in force in recent days, launching appeals for funds […]
Recent events in Pakistan continue to roil the dysfunctional machinery of that country’s convoluted and stably corruptible domestic and international politics. U.S. leaders have indicated that there exists conclusive proof that the ISI, Pakistan’s vaunted, though suspiciously-embarrasingly- incompetent spy service was complicit in the murder of respected investigative journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad. Recent reporting by […]
“Defending Canada’s interests in the North.”“Flex our Arctic muscles.” These are some of the op-ed headlines to come out in recent days in reaction to the Russians’ announcement that they would create two brigades to be stationed in the Arctic. This really should not come as a surprise. First, Russia has been increasing its military […]
On Tuesday, General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, dubbed the most powerful military man in Yemen, opened up to CNN in a lengthy interview. General Mohsen famously defected from the Regime in March 2011, breaking away from President Saleh after 30 years of loyal services. Now a supporter of the Revolution, Ali Mohsen remains however a senior […]
Due to a family tragedy back home I am at OR Tambo heading back to the US (well, Delta willing) tonight, several days early. I do, however, have a great deal of reportage and commentary stored up and plan to be posting about the state of South Africa for the next couple of weeks.
So, I suppose it is about time for a few words on the state of South African politics. Two related caveats. First, forgive an inordinate amount of typos. And second, forgive a lack of links. The reason for both is that on this trip I have had only an iPad and while it is a […]
I was born in Georgia. Edilberto was not, but he has toiled in Georgia’s onion fields for the past 16 years. By all signs, he has led a contented, albeit hard, life in the state where his three children were born. Now though, he is planning to move to North Carolina. This is because on […]
Amidst a backdrop of popular discontent and social strife, Yingluck Shinawatra, sister to ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was swept into office Sunday on a tidal wave of support from the poor, rural Thai majority. Ms. Yingluck will become Thailand’s first female prime minister in August when she will be all but certainly be given the […]
My travels have taken me from the sub-tropical coastal city of Durban to the raw and rainy coastal city of East London. The drive was long and slow, if uneventful, and divided by a night at a B&B in Mthatha. Within seconds of finishing this morning’s breakfast I knew something was seriously awry. To make […]
The same day Iraq signed a $365 million agreement to install a pipeline network to import 25 million cubic meters of Iranian natural gas a day to the Sadr, al-Quds and South Baghdad power stations in the Iraqi capital, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hinted to aides that he was considering cutting half of his government’s […]