Section: US & Canada
Evolving ‘Super Candidate’ Putin Strategizing for ‘Super Majority’ Turnout
In a Russian presidential campaign season in which Kremlin officials have insisted that candidates abide by federal election laws, numerous news outlets have reported President Vladimir Putin’s exception to the rule. Barred from leveraging so-called “administrative resources” — the bureaucratic machinery of various state-backed media,...
America Must Ask More of Its NATO Allies
John R. Deni Security, Europe Conditionality creates the very instability that the NATO treaty was designed to eliminate in the first place, ultimately undermining U.S. security and economic well-being. The president’s 2019 budget proposes a 30 percent increase—to $6.5 billion—for the European Deterrence Initiative, a program that pays for...
Russians to Vote Sunday in Presidential Election; Putin Victory Expected
Russians are to vote Sunday in a presidential election expected to result in another six-year term for Vladimir Putin, who has been in a position of leadership in Russia for 18 years. He faces seven challengers but no real threats from any of the contenders. Each of the other candidates — a reality TV star and an ultranationalist among them — is...
Conservative defence critic questions plan to send Canadian peacekeepers to Mali
The Conservative defence critic is questioning the Trudeau government’s decision to send peacekeeping troops to the troubled West African nation of Mali. A senior government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed late Friday night that Canada will dispatch an aviation task force to Mali as part of a United Nations...
The Latest: Russian presidential vote kicks off in Far East
A polling station official hangs a list of candidates for the 2018 Russian presidential election, during preparations for the 2018 Russian presidential election at a polling station in Simferopol, Crimea, Saturday, March 17, 2018. Russian voters, observers and eight presidential… …read more Source: The Bismarck...
Putin Votes Cast From Crimea May Come at High Diplomatic Cost
Russian President Vladimir Putin was in high spirits as he took the stage this week in Sevastopol, Crimea, addressing an ultra-patriotic concert rally marking the fourth anniversary of the internationally unrecognized referendum intended to legitimize Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula. “Four years ago you made a...
On Russia, There Are Two Trumps
When it comes to Russia, there is the Trump administration — and there is the president.The Trump administration denounces Russia for using nerve agent on British soil. President Donald Trump says nothing for days, then calls it “a very sad situation.”The Trump administration castigates Russia for indiscriminate killing in Syria. Trump says...
Mike Pompeo, Counterpuncher
Donald Trump says he and his pick to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, “have a very similar thought process,” but what they seem to have most in common is a code of conduct for dealing with adversaries. Trump, drawing on the lessons he learned from his former lawyer Roy Cohn, often describes himself as a “counterpuncher.”...
Russia summons British ambassador over spy poisoning dispute
British national flag flutters in front of the British Embassy with the Ukraine Hotel, right, in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 16, 2018. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday accused Britain of violating international law and criticized… …read more Source: The Bismarck...
Thiessen: What Trump needs to know before meeting with Kim Jong Un
WASHINGTON — With the nomination and likely confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, President Trump will soon have a trusted adviser who can prepare him for his upcoming summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Pompeo’s first job is to make sure Trump understands one thing going into those talks: North Korea has no plans to...
