In light of Senator Jim Webb’s trip to Myanmar and former president Bill Clinton’s recent and well publicized visit to North Korea, I thought this report in The Washington Times was interesting. It examines the practice of using “proxy diplomats” to deal with international crises and questions the political implications of using such unofficial agents. […]
1) Two female teachers were gunned down in northwest Pakistan. This is, obviously, an abhorrent crime, and the United States should do what it can to promote the rights of women in AfPak. But women’s rights alone are not a sufficient reason to continue the military effort there. 2) Croatia’s bid to join the EU […]
Overuse and misuse of the verb “to see” are spreading like a pandemic through much of the U.S. and British media. The habit is more than just ugly and unnecessary; it betrays a sloppiness of thinking that is dangerous among journalists, who should be masters of succinct and clear expression. How often do U.S. broadcast […]
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has been very visible lately. First, she publicly expressed frustration that al-Qaeda militants have been allowed a sanctuary inside Pakistan, along the border with Afghanistan. This vocal admonition surprised many Pakistani officials, but they really shouldn’t be surprised. Pakistan continues to play a two-way game with the United States on […]
Yesterday Maine voters dealt a blow to LGBT rights, with 53% of those who voted in a referendum opting to repeal Maine’s state law recognizing the right of same sex couples to get married. While New England is considered the region of the U.S. most supportive of the right of same sex couples to marry, […]
The Overseas Press Club of America will host a panel of heavyweight journalists on th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Monday, November 9. Foreign correspondent Tim Aeppel, prestigious photojournalist and co-founder of Contact Press Images David Burnett, former Newsweek Bonn/Berlin bureau chief Michael Meyer, and international affairs writer/lecturer Elizabeth Pond will […]
Reuters reports rapidly melting glaciers and falling water tables in the world’s largest grain-producing nations pose a significant threat to food security. Meeting in Barcelona this week to flesh out details of the looming Copenhagen climate summit in December 2009, negotiators and participants must also taken into account the scientific reports showing unmistakable changes and […]
The following is an interview with Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni. Professor Bassiouni has held many positions with the United Nations including Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, and Chairman of the Security Council’s Commission to Investigate Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Former Yugoslavia. He is currently […]
In the past couple days, the New York Times has published two stories about new energy. In one about new controversial gas drilling in Colorado, The Times is pretty clearly against drilling. There is a risk of pollution (there always is an environmental cost in all energy, including green energy). But what upsets The Times […]
The 20th century, characterized by perhaps the greatest blood-letting in human history, has shaped our reality in ways we do not understand. It was period defined by what Matthew White calls the Hemoclysm, a blood convulsion, bookended by atrocities in the Congo. Our last century was not about freedom, love and optimism: It was shaped […]
As I noted yesterday, I’ll be visiting the subject of the intersection of animal agriculture and climate change more often here. For now, I want to note two recent items, one a “NY Times” op-ed, the other a book review in the “New Yorker.” (Yes, I live in New York City.) The former, an op-ed […]
A virtual wall created for Twitter users to express their thoughts and hopes on the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall has been blocked in China. The “Berlin Twitter Wall,” as it’s called, is an initiative of KulturProjekte Berli, a not-for-profit organization that promotes networking and mediation of art and culture. […]
1) A photo essay from Der Spiegel: The west-east German border, then and now. 2) John Mearsheimer argues for the United States to leave Afghanistan—but that Obama won’t because of domestic political considerations. 3) Americans are overhwelmingly in favor of a ban on texting while driving (this wouldn’t be a problem if our infrastructure was […]
Foreign policy has once again returned to the headlines as President Obama continues his decision-making process on Afghanistan and Secretary of State Clinton recently completed a tour of the Middle East. I’d like to call your attention to an interesting report in today’s Washington Post that compares and contrasts the promise and performance of the […]
Not everybody would have caught the headline, but when you’re as tuned into Climate Change as I am – and many of you are – then Climate chief Lord Stern: give up meat to save the planet is going to grab your attention. Who is Lord Nicholas Stern? He is a world-class economist and leader […]