The Kojo Nnamdi show, an NPR station based in Washington, DC, hosted a group of foreign policy experts and practitioners in a discussion about the future of the US Foreign Service (FS). (Listen to the show). All of Kojo's guests pointed out that the central barrier to a bright future for the FS was the […]
Former Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering tells the Independent the United States and Iran have been holding back channel talks over its nuclear program for several years. Last month Pickering, along with William Leurs and James Walsh, authored an editorial in the International Herald Tribune regarding stagnation in the United States' policy towards Iran. They […]
The Financial Times reports the United States has reached a compromise with North Korea over declaration of its nuclear activities. The United States has agreed Pyongyang does not need to publicly state a complete declaration of its nuclear activities. The compromise would allow for a "secret side-agreement" in which North Korea would acknowledge concerns over […]
If you are at all interested in the field of journalism you might enjoy reading this interview with David Marash in the Columbia Journalism Review. But his story is one that appeals to us followers of US foreign policy as well. Marash, formerly a “Nightline” correspondent, took a job in 2006 with Al Jazera English, the English-language version […]
FP Passport's editor, Blake Hounshell, strongly criticizes President Bush for failing diplomacy 101, "a game of give-and-take in which trading away concessions allows you to get what you want on your top priorities." Blake's post articulates a number of policies the United States is pursuing and Russia stands against (of which we've mentioned on this […]
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrote in today's Wall Street Journal on the free trade proposal with Columbia: "It is not every day that our government, with one bold stroke, could strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. workers; support a democratic ally on the cusp of achieving lasting national success; weaken those who would sow instability […]
FPA's Public Diplomacy blog published today a post about an author who was quite critical of the Bush administration's conduct of foreign policy. Fred Kaplan gave the next US president advice on how to “undo the damage” done by the Bush administration. This post reviews another article critical of President Bush's diplomatic practices. Timothy Garton […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Huffington Post published an op-ed authored by three former Foreign Service Officers titled “Why We Said No: Three Diplomats’ Duty.” The authors, Ann Wright, John Brown, and Brady Kiesling resigned as US diplomats in opposition to the invasion of Iraq. You may read Kiesling's letter of resignation, published in the New York Times, here. […]