Section: Foreign Policy (USA)
Why We Can’t Just Read English Newspapers to Understand Terrorism
A few weeks ago, the White House convened the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), a three-day event intended to “discuss concrete steps” that the United States and its allies can take to mitigate violent extremism around the globe. Yet, the sobering reality is that despite 75 years of monitoring the world’s media and spending...
Ruble on the Rebound
The Russian ruble is rebounding, outpacing all other world currencies against the dollar this year. The 20 percent recovery this month alone stands in stark contrast to last year, when U.S. officials smugly pointed to Russia’s plummeting currency as proof that Western sanctions against Moscow for meddling in Ukraine were working. That...
Situation Report: What happened to the Cuban Revolution; What $12B a year buys you; Day One of Baghdad’s trip to Washington; and more
By Paul McLeary and Sabine Muscat Here comes trouble. Day One of the Iraqi leadership’s visit to Washington is in the books, and so far it’s been pretty much free of drama (and big announcements). Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has met with President Barack Obama, the U.S. and Iraqi defense chiefs have met, and there’s been some...
Decentralize or Perish
Russian aggression against Ukraine is undeniable. It has been successful in part because Kiev’s botched post-Soviet transition to democracy has made the country vulnerable to its neighbor’s revanchist designs. The best way for Kiev to “win” in the current conflict against Putin’s Russia is to fulfill the goals of the Maidan...
Situation Report: Baghdad looking for guns and cash; al Shabab hits Mogadishu; diplomacy saves embarrassment at Americas summit; and more
By Paul McLeary and Sabine Muscat Wheels down. Iraqi ambassador to the U.S. Lukman Faily tweeted a picture last night of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his team landing in Washington for three days of intensive meetings with U.S. government officials and international financial leaders. One of the big questions revolves around the coming...
Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, April 13, 2015
To keep up with Democracy Lab in real time, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Abdulwahab Alkebsi and Mohamad Malouche urge Tunisians to embark on far-ranging economic reform. Ola Cichowlas and Andrew Foxall explain why democrats have reason to worry about the dramatic rise of business tycoon and populist politician Andrej Babis. Daniel...
Situation Report: Hillary’s in, Ash touts his big bombs, Nigerian artillery gets loose; Ukrainian cop fashion; lots more
By Paul McLeary and Sabine Muscat Just get used to it. The slate of thorny foreign policy issues that will both propel and dog the campaigns of 2016 presidential hopefuls is long and likely to grow, but none will have to thread the needle like Hillary Clinton, who announced her White House run on Sunday. It’s was all Hillary’s idea....
Situation Report: Kerry and the Cubans; Iran open for business; Abadi to D.C.; Air power ain’t the only power; and more
By Paul McLeary and Sabine Muscat Leading the day: Just a week after Iran and international negotiators reached a preliminary deal regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, countries — and companies — around the world are knocking down Iran’s door and hunting for business, reports FP’s Keith Johnson and Jamila Trindle. Leading next...
Greece Needs to Start Playing Hardball With Germany
The newly elected Greek government’s demands for debt relief and policy freedom from its eurozone creditors are both just and necessary. But Syriza doesn’t seem to have thought through how to achieve its objectives. Athens has tactics, policies, positions, poses, postures, arguments, claims, hopes, fears, and words aplenty — but...
Playing the Putin Card
Greeks have bequeathed much to the vocabulary of politics, from “democracy” to “drama” to “hubris.” Also “Trojan horse.” The image of the Trojans succumbing to cunning and deceit haunts diplomats and pundits today as they follow the Greek government’s overtures to Russia. Many fear that the coalition in Athens is edging dangerously close to...
