Foreign Policy Blogs

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Israel’s Arab Citizens

Moment Magazine, where I am the senior editor, just launched the first in a multi-part series on Israel’s Arab citizens. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most covered conflicts in the world. But there is little media attention given to Israel’s one million Arab citizens, in spite of disturbing calls on the far Israeli […]

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The Age of Stupid (Preview)

The Age of Stupid (Preview)

This film is being shown in more than 550 cinemas and more than 45 countries on September 21 and September 22. Go here to see if it’s playing near you. ‘The Age of Stupid’ is the new cinema documentary from the Director of ‘McLibel’ and the Producer of the Oscar-winning ‘One Day in September’. [kml_flashembed […]

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Fed Chair Says Recession is ‘Very likely over.’

Fed Chair Says Recession is ‘Very likely over.’

The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, speaking at a Brookings Institute Conference, said Tuesday that it was “very likely” that the recession had ended although he cautioned that it could be months before unemployment rates dropped significantly.

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Iran's Day of Solidarity?

You cannot imagine a stronger mix of religion and politics than the news out of Iran today. According to the LA Times, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been prevented from leading the Friday Prayers in Tehran on the occasion of Quds Day. The alleged reformist leaders are being warned to avoid protesting tomorrow, and […]

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Pittsburgh G-20 to Confront Global Trade & Economic Imbalance

Pittsburgh G-20 to Confront Global Trade & Economic Imbalance

Pittsburgh, PA will host the next G-20 Summit slated for Thursday & Friday, September 24-25th, 2009. President Obama will chair this meeting of leaders from countries around the world who represent 85% of the global economy. At the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit, leaders will review the progress made since the London Summits, recent protectionist measures between the U.S and China over tires, auto parts and chicken exports, and discuss further actions to assure a sound and sustainable economic recovery from the global financial and economic crisis.

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News…

News…

Guatemalan soldiers sold children in war Guatemalan soldiers forcibly abducted and sold hundreds of children for foreign adoption during the country’s prolonged civil war, a Guatemalan government report charges. When Guatemala’s war ended in 1996, the country was second only to China in the number of international adoptions. Obama Unshackles Global AIDS Work The administration […]

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A Category for Murder

A Category for Murder

Last week I got a surprising email from a close friend and fellow journalist–someone by the name of Christian Poveda had been murdered in El Salvador. My friend knew Mr. Poveda years back while reporting on the conflicts in the 80’s in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In more recent years, Poveda had been doing controversial […]

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No End in Sight (2007)

No End in Sight (2007)

After the fall of Baghdad in 2003, chaos and lawlessness prevailed. How and why that happened is what this documentary tries – convincingly – to explain. Through interview after interview, director Charles Ferguson shows how mistakes were made in the highest levels of the United States government. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/vINM0CAysc8″ width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Former Deputy […]

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More Troops for Afghanistan?

Admiral Mike Mullen said yesterday that he anticipates more troops will be needed in Afghanistan: Admiral Mullen, called before the Senate Armed Services Committee to testify for his nomination to serve a second term as chairman, said that no specific request for more troops had yet been received from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior […]

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Islamic Law in Context

On Monday, BBC News reported from Aceh province in Indonesia that a new law was passed to make adultery punishable by stoning to death. According to the BBC report, “Sharia law was partially introduced in Aceh in 2001, as part of a government offer to pacify separatist rebels.” Now, the regional parliament for Aceh has […]

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Finally, Health Care for All? U.S. Unveils a New Plan That Could Change the Rules About Pre-Existing Conditions

Today, after a much-anticipated wait, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus laid out a health care reform plan. One of the key features of this plan is that it would prohibit private insurance companies from denying insurance to people because of preexisting conditions that they may have, and from discriminating against them because of […]

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Chad Update

In the past couple of weeks, the International Crisis Group, which monitors and comments on conflict situations around the world, has been focusing on the African country of Chad. Chad is neighbor to Sudan and starting point of what had been one of the most anticipated oil pipelines in history. ICG’s recommendations ask Chad’s government […]

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Obama Takes Reform Fight to Wall Street

Obama Takes Reform Fight to Wall Street

Mon, 14 Sept – President Obama reinvigorated his administration’s effort to reform the financial regulatory system by taking his bare knuckled message directly to Wall Street. Speaking at Federal Hall and using the one year anniversary of the Wall St. collapse the president reminded prominent financial industry executives of their role and risk-taking behavior that led to a global economic melt-down.

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Clash of the Titans in Uganda

Uganda has made headlines this past week for violent clashes in the capital city of Kampala over development, property rights, and the traditional Buganda king. The unrest is unusual for Uganda, but highlights growing discontent with the government of Yoweri Museveni. The cause of the clashes was a planned trip by the Buganda king, King […]

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Goldman Sachs: Obama Economic Stimulus Working

Goldman Sachs: Obama Economic Stimulus Working

According to an article in today’s (2 Sept 2009) Wall Street Journal, Goldman Sachs’ Cheif U.S. Economist says that President Obama’s economic stimulus package is beginning to boost U.S. economic performance.

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