What do some in the halls of power in Beijing make of U.S.-China relations? A recent op-ed penned for the China Daily by a scholar at the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, an influential government think tank that often sets the Party’s ideological bearings, suggests the emerging view that the U.S. has adopted a strategy […]
It is now the 10th day of what Gen. Petraeus called the ‘initial salvo’ of the mission in the former (can we call it that?) Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province. The fighting has been been fierce, yet sporadic, as reports of American soldier, Afghan army, and civilian deaths slowly roll in (Here’s a video of […]
A private meeting between the Venezuelan and Colombian leaders apparently ended in a shouting match on Monday. They were both attending a Latin American summit in Cancun, Mexico. An already tense discussion appeared to blow up when Chávez raised the issue of Colombian paramilitaries. The explanation of the words used is critical, since the meeting […]
The Awami League government in Bangladesh is reaching out to all its neighbors for foreign aid and investment. Along with its recent moves to court the Indian government to fund development projects in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly will be seeking $3 billion in assistance from China during her 5 day state visit to […]
The outside world is sending somewhat mixed messages on Zimbabwe. The International Monetary Fund has restored Zim’s voting rights, albeit with the caveat that any new loans will only be considered until it pays arrears of about US$140 million to the Poverty Reduction & Growth Trust (PRGT). The European Union, meanwhile, believes that the country […]
Israel is still contemplating restarting peace negotiations with Syria. The Obama administration just reversed a Bush administration position and sent an ambassador to Damascus. Syria continues to fuel turmoil in Lebanon and function as an ally for Iran. Syria also continues to support terror and permit conventional weapons proliferation and attempted -unsuccessfully thanks to an Israeli […]
One of the questions about South Africa’s preparation for the World Cup has been just what benefit the majority of the country’s people will accrue from the event, especially when the world has packed up and headed back home. National Commissioner of the Police Bheki Cele argues that policing will be markedly improved because of […]
I’ve been out of commission for a few days with travel and catching up and the ebbs and flows of modern life. Here is a deluge of links to get you (and me) back in the swing of things: In South Africa there is a new documentary series on the Truth and Reconciliation process, When […]
After a bruising 2009, Mexico’s economy should return to positive growth of around 3% this year, but the path to sustainable development remains uncertain. Reforming state-owned industries risks massive political backlash, but improving Mexico’s trade regime offers promise without the peril. What trade strategies can boost Mexico’s growth? Several prospects have been bandied about. Talk […]
With world opinion generally critical of Israeli actions and the large majority of the Arab world opposed to the Jewish state, Israel takes the friends it can get. However, Israel is still involved in a tiff with the self-titled pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby J Street. Some Israeli officials, such as ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, […]
As the first year anniversary of the BDR Mutiny in Bangladesh approaches, the government is getting ready to charge over 800 members of the Border Guard with murder, arson, looting and hiding bodies in mass graves. As the Daily Star reports, “Investigators are now busy re-examining their findings, relevant documents and evidence on February 25-26 […]
Thailand: This blog has followed the “Shinawatra Saga” in Thailand for awhile. Thitinan Pongsudhirak has an interesting editorial on the issues at OpinionAsia. Mr. Pongsudhirak contends that the core issue is not Shinawatra, but democracy and social justice. For this reason, he believes the Red Shirts (a.k.a. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, UDD) […]
The Awami League led government of Bangladesh is moving swiftly to institutionalize most of its governance and development plans in order to show that it can work transparently with its international aid donors. As the Daily Star reports: “The government has drafted 26 action plans including those for framing a new civil service act, dredging rivers […]
Bangladeshis today, and during the day past, celebrated Ekushey February, the commemoration of the events of February 21, 1952, when student protestors were killed demonstrating for the cause to retain Bengali as a state language in, then, East Pakistan. A quick rundown of the stultifying events of that day, which lasted only 30 minutes will help […]
The Dutch Christian-Democrat, Christian Union, and Labor Party coalition-led government has collapsed and it seems likely that a national election is in the offing. What does this has to with Afghanistan? Well, one of the major reasons for the collapse of the Parliamentary partnership was the Netherlands troop presence in Afghanistan’s volatile southern Uruzgan province. […]