by Maia Gemmill | 27 Jun 2007 |
Did you know that there's a new Cold War? Well, not really. It makes for good media headlines, but it's largely exaggerated hype.Nevertheless, tensions between the US and Russia have been on the rise over the last year. At the heart of the matter is Russia's desire to be taken seriously as a player in the world political scene. The economy is booming and government coffers are overflowing. Russia sees itself as undergoing a resurgence and they...
by Maia Gemmill | 26 Jun 2007 |
By now, you have probably heard about the recall of Thomas the Tank Engine toys, which are decorated with lead paint. While Lead-Foot Thomas is getting a lot of media attention right now, it's only the latest in a string of serious safety problems associated with products imported from China. Over the last few years, there have been repeated recalls on children's toys and jewelry due to lead contamination--all produced in China. Then there was...
by Maia Gemmill | 26 Jun 2007 |
"I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest."Russia observers love to trot out Churchill's famous quote. In fact, people love to use this quote in all sorts of other contexts--to apply to pretty much anything that is difficult to comprehend.Churchill, however, made this statement in a radio address on October 1, 1939,...
by Rodger Payne | 25 Jun 2007 |
Parade magazine's straw poll asks: "Does the UN still matter?"Right now, the vote is running just about 60/40.That's 59% no, 41% yes, as of this moment.While more scientific polling also reveals a lot of skepticism about the UN's ability to work well, public polling results also typically indicate significant public support for making the UN work better. Update 6/30/07: It's 72% no, 28% yes tonight.
by Peter | 25 Jun 2007 |
Last Thursday, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill made a sudden and surprise visit to North Korea to talk directly with the North Korean government about their nuclear program.All I can say is-- its about (_______) time. And, it shows the power of good, pragmatic diplomacy.From 2001 through 2004, the Bush Administration held a very tough line toward North Korea--axis of evil, no direct talks, CVID, etc. This tough line was very...
by Peter | 19 Jun 2007 |
Reading Sunday's NYT, I was somewhat surprised to read about the intensity of debate within senior Administration circles about how to address Iran's nuclear program.The debate has pitted Ms. Rice and her deputies, who appear to be winning so far, against the few remaining hawks inside the administration, especially those in Vice President Dick Cheney’s office who, according to some people familiar with the discussions, are pressing for greater...
by Dan Nexon | 14 Jun 2007 |
The Israel-Palestine controversy in the academy parallels, in one respect, the Israel-Palestine conflict. Both involve a polarizing action-reaction cycle in which everyone loses.
by Rodger Payne | 14 Jun 2007 |
The U.S. is now going to arm Sunni Iraqi groups -- some of the very same groups that were called "insurgents" just days ago -- if those groups pledge to fight al Qaeda of Iraq. Reportedly, this strategy has proven successful in al-Anbar province and will now be tested in other Sunni strongholds.This is an interesting development, to say the least.At first glance, the plan seems ridiculous. The U.S. could effectively be arming both sides in a...
by Dan Nexon | 13 Jun 2007 |
It has been a busy week in world politics, but despite finishing my book I've been too squeezed to provide insightful commentary. A bit of geek-blogging, on the other hand, takes far less energy. While I was trolling around Gamespot this discussion of Halo's influences caught my eye:GS: With Halo, you've succeeded in creating a unique sci-fi setting and storyline in a rather overcrowded genre. What were the inspirations for the game's...
by Peter | 12 Jun 2007 |
How many ways, how many times, can one say that the US is @#$*&% in Iraq?Today, two of the better military correspondents following Iraq (each with a must-read book on Iraq) dispense key insights as to how problematic Iraq is for the United States.Michael Gordon in the NYT reports that:The top American military commander for the Middle East has warned Iraq’s prime minister in a closed-door conversation that the Iraqi government needs to make...
by Dan Nexon | 11 Jun 2007 |
Alex Cooley has a very positive review of Thomas Wright's and my article, "What's at Stake in the American Empire Debate," up at 3 Quarks Daily.UPDATE: Henry Farrel links to Cooley's discussion and sparks a debate in comments.
by Peter | 8 Jun 2007 |
The Senate held hearings the other day to confirm Lt. General Douglas Lute to be President Bush's "War Czar"-- a special assistant to the President directly overseeing the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.* Remember, this is the job that 3 or 4 (to our knowledge) retired Generals turned down. Lute, on active duty in the Army, could hardly say no.I wonder-- how on earth is he going to be able to do anything in this job? In the report on his...