A new poll conducted for the BBC World Service by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) and the international polling firm GlobeScan shows that for the first time since 2005, global views of the United States have improved. But they’re still not what you would call “good.” From the study's report: “While views of US influence in […]
Former US Ambassador Chas Freeman addressed a conference of the University of Continuing Education Association last week. Before retiring from the Foreign Service Freeman served at posts in nearly every continent and became a specialist in China. Notably, Freeman was Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, from 1989-1992. In 1993,94, he […]
Last week I pointed out an article authored by a British academic, addressing the British public about the errs of voting for John McCain, if Britons were to take to the American polls. Also last week a French academic authored an article about the US Presidential candidates, this time addressing the American public on which candidate Europeans […]
Referring to the dissipating morale of the American cause, Thomas Paine wrote in the winter of 1776 that "these are the times that try men's souls." One might reflect today on Afghanistan as trying NATO's soul. President Bush envisions a new mission for NATO through Afghanistan, while some see the fissure over troops in Afghanistan […]
These days the United Nations seems to be the wealthiest impoverished international bureaucracy around. This week the Washington Times’ UN correspondent Betsy Pisik reported that the UN made one final stride toward beginning a $2 billion renovation project of its headquarters in Manhattan. “The organization will shift some 1,800 employees to a Madison Avenue glass […]
Foreign Policy In Focus, a progressive think tank based in Washington DC, published a useful article synthesizing the three US Presidential candidates positions on key foreign policy issues. The author is himself an advocate for a Presidential candidate that is engaged in foreign relations. Howard Salter is the Director of External Relations at Citizens for Global Solutions, a non-partisan think tank based […]
The war in Iraq has grown increasingly unpopular at home, and it continues to be unpopular abroad. [The BBC World Service broadcast a fantastic documentary about how the US-lead war in Iraq changed the world's mind on the US]. So what do the US Presidential candidates propose to do about it? Spencer Ackerman investigated this […]
If you’ve ever heard a State Department briefing, or briefing by any other foreign ministry, you probably don't think of foreign policy as an exercise in “straight talk.” Yet there was John McCain in Los Angeles the other day, driving his “Straight Talk Express” right down the middle of the road. The word “Bush” was […]
The political winds have shifted in Pakistan, which leaves the question: How will the dynamics of Pakistan's new political leaders play out with US policy goals in the region? This Economist article provides some good context to recent and coming events in Pakistan. The article points out that that Administration's key ally, Musharraf, faces a […]
Today's Wall Street Journal carries an interesting summary of how the world's regions seem to feel about Hillary, Obama and McCain. That Barack Obama would be popular in Africa, Indonesia and the Mideast is perhaps no surprise. But he also appears to be quite popular in Europe, where I’m writing from this week. On the […]
The Financial Times published an op-ed by Anatol Lieven, a British academic (who sidelines as an American think-tank-er), titled “Why we should fear a McCain presidency.” In the piece, Lieven schools his British compatriots on the danger that “a natural incendiary” like Republican Presidential candidate John McCain poses to trans-Atlantic relations. Leiven explains: “The problem that Mr McCain poses stems […]
On February 17, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Although Kosovo acted without UN approval, it quickly gained the recognition of major Western powers, namely the United States and Europe's major powers, while Serbia, Russia, China and over a dozen other countries claimed the declaration was invalid. While Kosovo is now acting as an independent nation, challenges […]
ZAGREB — President Bush leaves for Europe in a few days. Likely one of the last foreign trips of his Presidency, Bush's five-day visit to Kiev, Bucharest, and Zagreb offers him a chance to work on his image and his legacy — each in bad repair. The timing is both good and bad. First the […]
As many of your know, Senator Obama gave a major campaign speech last week on the subject of race in the U.S. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/pWe7wTVbLUU” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Public Radio International's The World program hosted a panel of international journalists based in Washington to discuss how their publics’ view race in America. It is an […]
During his Middle East trip, Vice President Cheney offered several pragmatic remarks concerning the stalemate between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators: "On Sunday, Cheney said the United States would continue to work toward the "long-overdue' goal of creating a Palestinian state. "Achieving that vision will require tremendous effort at the negotiating table and painful concessions on […]