Section: National Review (USA)
Global Magnitsky Act Set for Markup — and a Showdown
Earlier this month, I wrote about the curious case of the Global Magnitsky Act, which, shortly after being scheduled for markup in the House Foreign Affairs Committee in April, disappeared from the committee’s agenda. The original Magnitsky Act, which was signed into law in 2012 and permits sanctions on Russian individuals involved in...
A Voice of America, Part II
Editor’s Note: In the current issue of National Review, we have a piece by Jay Nordlinger, “A Voice of America.” It focuses on Myroslava Gongadze, the head of the Ukrainian service. This week, Mr. Nordlinger is expanding the piece in his Impromptus. For Part I, go here. The series concludes today.Myroslava Gongadze went to work for the...
Video: Russia Celebrates Seven Years of ‘Reset’ With Simulated Attacks on U.S. Warship
I present you with two videos — the first was seven years ago last month, and it’s one of the more cringe-worthy moments in recent diplomatic history:The second is from the Baltic Sea this week, featuring the USS Donald Cook and Russian SU-24 attack aircraft:CBS has the details:Yet again Russian jets made provocatively close passes to...
A Trump Administration Would Cave to Putin, Threatening Poland and Israel
As the New York primary approaches, Empire State residents with international connections may wish to consider the implications of a Donald Trump presidency for lands overseas that are dear to many of their hearts.Trump wants to gut NATO. He has openly expressed admiration for Russian revanchist strongman Vladimir Putin, and he has hired several...
The Dutch Hit Back at the EU (Via Ukraine)
As tends to happen when EU voters are given a direct say on the European project, Brussels has just lost another referendum.This time, Dutch voters have said ‘nee’ to the EU’s association agreement (a trade deal and much more besides) with Ukraine. I posted a bit about the coming vote here on the Corner in January, drawing heavily on...
The (Relatively) American-Free ‘Panama Papers’ Scandal
The ongoing “Panama Papers” scandal is revealing that some of the world’s most prominent and wealthy figures set up accounts in foreign tax havens to avoid paying taxes in their home countries. The list of figures includes the King of Saudi Arabia, the prime minister of Iceland, the presidents of Argentina, the UAE, and Ukraine; former...
Bring American Seapower to Bear in Europe
As a result of the brazen Russian aggression recently witnessed in the Crimea, Ukraine, and Syria, there is widespread recognition that U.S. military presence and activity in Europe must be increased. Even the Obama administration is reversing course on its plans to shutter European bases and withdraw forces and equipment from the continent. To...
President Obama Is a Political Narcissist
Russia announces the withdrawal of its forces from Syria. The decision is a surprise — President Obama is shocked. This is a feeling he experiences often.He was astonished when Vladimir Putin intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2015. He was startled when ISIS conquered a fair portion of Mesopotamia in 2014. He was jarred when Putin invaded...
Behind the Curve: Obama (Again), and Some Republicans Too
The Guardian:Barack Obama is planning to make “a big, public reach-out” to British voters to stay inside the European Union, the chair of the US Senate foreign relations committee has revealed.The plan emerged amid fears in Washington that the UK’s EU referendum is a dangerous gamble that could unravel with disastrous consequences for the...
