The politically correct answer is the following: because Mexico is an important partner of the United States. However, the real answer is something closer to this: because Mexico is using taxpayer’s dollars in a war against drugs that is spilling into the United States and it may need even more funds to keep the effort. […]
Most observers, myself included, concur that the African National Congress is likely to win South Africa’s April elections handily. The Congress of the People lacks the infrastructure, the public loyalty, and the heft at the top of the ticket (former bishop Mvume Dandala is a good man, but is not seen as having the killer instinct needed at the top […]
Morgan Tsvangirai is back in Zimbabwe and is ready to return to work after time spent in South Africa after his wife’s tragic death in a car crash. He returns to some modestly good news. Prices of goods bought in the US dollar, newly established as the formal currency, actually dropped in January for the […]
Every day I get emailed all the press briefings from the US State Department and yesterday, I found this in my inbox: The State Department has put up bounties of several million dollars, under the Rewards for Justice program, for three men with connections to Al Qaeda, Abu Yahya al-Libi, Baitullah Mehsud, and Sirajuddin Haqqani. […]
Last Monday, the head of the political section of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa appeared in front of the House of Commons Defense Committee. As expected, Dmitry Trofimov had harsh words for the Canadian government’s reaction to the February 18th Russian jet exercise conducted 200 kilometers outside the border between the Yukon and Alaska. He […]
An aritcle from Der Spiegel discusses the politics, transformation, and role of provocateur Avigdor Lieberman, slated to head the Foreign Ministry. Even though Lieberman’s comments may lead to Egypt boycotting celebrations for the 30th anniversary of peace accords between the two countries, the author contends that upon obtaining real power, Lieberman may begin exhibiting signs of […]
Shifting bargaining power in China trade The steady price increase in China-made goods has come to an end and bargaining power has shifted back to overseas buyers, according to executives at Li & Fung, the world’s largest trade sourcing company. After almost four years of steadily increasing prices for goods made in China a deflationary […]
Amb. Chas Freeman, who withdrew his nomination to chair the National Intelligence Council amidst criticisms that he does not support Israel, came out swinging against his opponents and their attacks. Notably, he questions the need for U.S. loyalty of Israel due to changed values between the two nations, based in part on the recent election results and […]
David Ignatius’ latest column explores unintended U.S. government support for Israeli settlements in the territories. While the government officially opposes the creation of new settlements and includes a freeze on settlements as the first step in the ‘Road Map,’ many domestic groups provide tax-exempt donations for the growth of outposts. He therefore concludes that U.S. policy […]
U.S. and Israeli efforts to curb the flow of weapons to Gaza resulted in a massive air-force strike on a convey from Sudan headed towards the region, according to reports. Officials from both the United States and Israel declined comment as pilot nationality -Israeli or American- and the origin of the jets, potentially even flying […]
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – Intelligence officials say at least 11 people are dead after a suicide bomber struck a restaurant in volatile northwest Pakistan. The two officials say the roadside restaurant’s visitors at the time included some two dozen militants opposed to Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. They say several others were wounded in […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Taliban’s military campaign in southern Afghanistan is aided partly by support from operatives in Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. The newspaper, citing U.S. government officials, said the support for the Taliban and other militant groups was coordinated by operatives in the S Wing of Pakistan’s […]
The United Kingdom has unveiled a 174-page report on how to tackle the Al Qaeda threat facing it. The threat is no longer confined to Underground blasts but may be “a chemical or even nuclear terrorist attack”. And those who do it will possibly be linked to two unstable and extremism-haunted “Islamic” states, Pakistan and […]
MOSCOW: Russia is ‘very much concerned’ about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and the country must be stabilised before peace can be achieved in Afghanistan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said in an interview with US television. ‘It’s obvious to anybody that the Pak-Afghan border is a safe haven for terrorists, for the […]
WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday offered $ 5 million each for information leading to Baitullah Mehsud and for Sirajuddin Haqqani and $1 million for Abu Yahya al-Libi. The offer, announced two days before the unveiling of the new US strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, indicates hardening of Washington’s stance against the militants hiding along […]