America’s Spirit Invincible; China’s Still Puzzling
America stages large military exercises with South Korea while China’s views on the North are unclear.
Analysis
Cameron on the Special Relationship
The British leader dismisses his nation’s endless preoccupation with the health of the transatlantic relationship.
A400M and the Politics of Aircraft Design
Seemingly good aircraft can get scrapped for political reasons and replaced with cheap imitations.
Are We Still Friends?
Doubts about President Barack Obama’s commitment to the old continent are growing.
Yemen’s Two Different, Dangerous Wars
Yemen’s government hasn’t focused on Al Qaeda, rather a separatist insurgency.
Newt Gingrich for President?
The former speaker of the House is considering a presidential bid.
South Asia’s Fragile Nuclear Balance
The paradigm shaping foreign policy in Washington DC today reads that the futures of Afghanistan and Pakistan are inherently intertwined. The war in the one cannot be resolved as long as insurgents are able to find safe haven in the other while regional stability demands peace across borders. Yet in Pakistan the Americans have to […]
Turkey’s Irrelevant Islamism
Commentators feared a radical backlash when Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became prime minister.
Reflections on the Asian Financial Crisis
What is now known as the Asian Financial Crisis began in July 1997 in Thailand where the baht fell victim to massive speculative attacks. Before the currency was finally devaluated to lose over half of its value, the country’s economic growth came to a grinding halt amid disastrous layoffs in previously booming sectors as finance […]
Don’t Worry Too Much About China’s Navy
China is building up its fleet, but it is not building the infrastructure needed to support a global naval presence.
In Lula’s Shadow
Brazilians will be heading for the polls come October to elect a new president. For the first time since democracy was returned to the Latin American country in the 1980s, the name of Luiz Inácio da Silva will not appear on any ballot. But for the major party candidates, it’s hard to escape the shadow […]
All Anger on the Republican Front
The Democrats may be falling in the polls and President Barack Obama is certainly unpopular but the Republicans have no reason to take their newfound success for granted. On the contrary. The party has now to stop boasting and define its vision of twenty-first century conservatism lest it risk being thrown into the opposition again […]
A Layperson’s Musings on a Judicial Nomination
Thoughts on Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Vying for Influence in Central Asia
The United States appear to be scheduling a greater involvement in Central Asia. They should think twice before immersing themselves in this unfortunate quagmire however, boxed in between the conflicting interests of two former Cold War rivals. EurasiaNet reports that the Pentagon is preparing to embark on a small building boom in Central Asia. The […]
Israel Is More Secure Than Ever
After the Israeli Navy intercepted six vessels attempting to circumvent its blockade of the Gaza Strip two weeks ago and killed at least nine on board in the onslaught that ensued, international condemnation came swiftly. Israel doesn’t have to care particularly. Fierce reactions could be expected from the Arab world. Protests broke out in different […]