-
-
McCain a modern Macbeth?
So it seems that the dirty tactics John McCain has adapted in his desperate, "oh-God-I'm-old-it's-my-last-chance' are bruising his soul and making him even grumpier. Selling one's soul isn't something that's done on ebay. In his case it involves hiring the same aides that when destroying McCain in South Carolina for then boss G.W. Bush, McCain commented that there was "a special place in hell for them."
Well Hell must be the McCain/Palin ticket, because that's where they all work now. That is called lack of integrity, kids and it is not a quality I look for in a Mayor, let alone President. I also don't want a (now soulless) shoot-from-the-hip hack with a short fuse in these tense times globally and financially.
Wanna know real homeland danger? Combine 1 war of choice, sprinkle liberally (love to say that about neo-cons) with de-regulation, fold in 2 parts cronyism, turn a blind eye to ethics in the Banking and Mortgage world and stir until mixed. Spread troops very thin and chill.
If done just right you will have left yourself open for another disgusting attack on American Soil, with little treasure or troops to do much about it.
note: War of Choice is usually very expensive, as is ignoring banking and mortgage ethics. So it seems that the dirty tactics John McCain has adapted in his desperate, "oh-God-I'm-old-it's-my-last-chance' ... more -
The Mossadegh Project :: Mohammad Mossadegh.com
Did you know that Iran used to be a democracy?
"It's a sad story that really began in the 1950's..."
- President Bill Clinton
"Iran had a democratic government which was overthrown because of oil."
- Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Why did we, our government, help overthrow Mossadegh in 1953? It had to do with oil. So our foreign policy is designed to protect our oil interests."
- Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
"That's ancient history..."
- President Jimmy Carter, 1980 Did you know that Iran used to be a democracy? "It's a sad story that really began in the 1950's..." ... more -
Blueprint for Change: Foreign Policy
Just the facts--what Obama will do on Foreign Policy...
-
The View From Over There
Has America's image been tarnished by the last eight years? Democrats seem to think so, and increasingly so do some Republicans. Collective Journalism contributors around the world work to gauge America's image abroad, as US policymakers struggle to maintain positive feeling in spite of ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The View From Over There" takes in an depth look at American foreign policy and how it affects America's image abroad. In this show, we feature a look at how other countries view the US, especially in the wake of Sept 11, the War on Terror, and the War in Iraq. We also hear from citizens of other countries about who they prefer in this year's US election. And finally, we show a unique perspective on the issue of how to handle Iran - an Iranian perspective.
Collective Journalism, Current's citizen journalism program, works by combining perspectives from contributors like you around the world. All month until Election Day, CJ will be airing special investigations into the most important issues of this election. Has America's image been tarnished by the last eight years? Democrats seem to think so, and increasingly so do some Republicans. ... more -
GRITtv: Robert Fisk on why Israel/Palestine has Disappeared From American Politics
Reporter and historian Robert Fisk on why the Middle East, Israel/Palestine, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have disappeared from the Presidential campaigns. Has our political discourse been so diminished that voters no longer care? Reporter and historian Robert Fisk on why the Middle East, Israel/Palestine, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have disappeared fro... more
-
Sergey Lavrov: Follow Russia's Example and Acknowledge the Realities
Controversial artical, written by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov for Polish daily "Gazeta Wyborcza", claimed to make demands of creating a new Iron Curtain in Europe
----------------------
If the US and Poland are really interested in guaranteeing that the anti-missile base won't be directed against Russia, we are ready to consider their specific proposals. But we should be talking about guarantees, not about cosmetic political gestures, writes Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Yes, we do differ on many current international issues. We regret that the Polish government has agreed to host elements of the US strategic anti-missile system near Russia's borders. We disagree with the view, shared by many Polish politicians, of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict. An aggression launched by the Saakashvili regime forced Russia to undertake adequate military and political steps. Their purpose was to resist the aggression, protect soldier-peacekeepers and the civilian population, and prevent a potential genocide of the South Ossetian people. In conducting our foreign policy, we invariably observe principles formulated by President Dmitri Medvedev, including paying particular attention to regions where Russia has its privileged interests.
(continues) Controversial artical, written by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov for Polish daily "Gazeta Wyborcza", claimed to make demands of cr... more -
Transatlantic Unity on Russia - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
For much of the past month, the world's focus has turned to Russia. We took up the urgent, initial challenge of supporting Georgia after the Russian attack - a challenge that Poland was instrumental in meeting.
The main question going forward - which I addressed at length in a speech last Thursday - is, what do the events of the past month mean for Russia's relationship with the world, especially the United States and Europe?
The circumstances surrounding last month's conflict are well-known. Mistakes were made on both sides, but the response of Russia's leaders - invading a sovereign state across an internationally-recognized border, and then seeking to dismember it by recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia - was disproportionate. And the responsibility for this behavior lies not with Russia's neighbors, not with NATO enlargement, and not with the United States, but with Russia's leaders.
Perhaps more disturbing, though, is that Russia's attack fits into a worsening pattern of behavior over several years - among other things, its use of oil and gas as tools of coercion, its threat to target peaceful nations like Poland with nuclear weapons, and its curtailment of law and liberty at home. The emerging picture is an increasingly authoritarian and aggressive Russia.
The attack on Georgia has brought us to a critical moment - but not a deterministic one. Russia's leaders are making some unfortunate choices. But they can make different ones. Russia's future is in Russia's hands. But its choices will be shaped, in part, by the actions of others - especially the United States and our European allies.
Russia's invasion of Georgia has achieved - and will achieve - no enduring strategic objective. And our strategic goal now is to make it clear to Russia's leaders that their choices are putting Russia on a one-way path to self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance.
Accomplishing this goal will require the resolve and the unity of the United States and Europe. We cannot afford to validate the prejudices that some Russian leaders seem to have: that if you pressure free nations - if you bully, threaten, and lash out - we will cave in and eventually concede. The United States and Europe must stand up to this kind of behavior, and not allow Russia's aggression to achieve any benefit.
(continues) For much of the past month, the world's focus has turned to Russia. We took up the urgent, initial challenge of supporting Georgi... more -
CJ Special: The View From Over There
“The View From Over There”
Has America’s image been tarnished by the last eight years? Democrats seem to think so, and increasingly so do some Republicans. Collective Journalism contributors around the world work to gauge America’s image abroad, as US policymakers struggle to maintain positive feeling in spite of ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tune in tonight, October 6th at 10:30pm EST / 7:30 PST to catch the first of five CJ election specials, "The View From Over There." We'll replay it again tonight at 10:30pm PST, which means for those of you on the East Coast you can catch the replay Tuesday morning at 1:30am EST.
To find Current on your local cable/satellite provider, go here: http://current.com/currenttv
Collective Journalism, Current’s citizen journalism program, works by combining perspectives from contributors like you around the world. All month until Election Day, CJ will be airing special investigations into the most important issues of this election. “The View From Over There” takes in an depth look at American foreign policy and how it affects America’s image abroad. In this show, we feature a look at how other countries view the US, especially in the wake of Sept 11, the War on Terror, and the War in Iraq. We also hear from citizens of other countries about who they prefer in this year’s US election. And finally, we show a unique perspective on the issue of how to handle Iran – an Iranian perspective. “The View From Over There” ... more -
It's You Only Live Twice for Polish Shipyards
José Manuel Barroso is thinking about re-election, and the Commission chief is elected by member state governments. So if this Commission has no mercy for Polish shipyards, Mr Tusk's cabinet doesn't have to have understanding for its president's personal ambitions.
One can hardly resist a bitter feeling. One day the European Commission is willing to bend the rules to authorise tens of billions of euros for intervention in the banking sector, claiming this is not 'unlawful public aid', but a 'market operation'. On the next day the same competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes of the Netherlands, announces that there will be no leniency towards Polish shipyards. They have to give back the public aid they've received, even though in their case it was a much smaller figure and distributed over a number of years.
Unfortunately, the Commission is acting legitimately. The brutal truth is that when a powerful bank connected with half the European economy is shaken to the foundations, one Sunday afternoon is enough to give green light for a help package. When at issue are shipyards somewhere in Europe's peripheries, the EU laws can be applied to the letter. The decision when the rules should be bent and when not is utterly discretional.
(continues) José Manuel Barroso is thinking about re-election, and the Commission chief is elected by member state governments. So if this Commiss... more -
Russians of All Countries, Unite?
One would like Poland, Europe, and the world to have good relations with Russia, but Moscow has to want it too.
Eight million - close to one in five - Ukrainians will be eligible to apply for Russian citizenship, if a law currently discussed by the Duma enters in force. The same applies to millions of Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and other peoples of the former Soviet Union. It's enough for someone to have been born in Russia to now apply for its citizenship. There are tens of millions of such people in the former Soviet area.
It could seem alright that Moscow cares for its compatriots - were it not for a small provision in its military doctrine: 'A man with a Russian passport gets mugged and beaten on the street in the Crimea, and on the next day Russian tanks roll in or planes drop bombs. This isn't a joke, precisely such argumentation was used by Moscow during the recent war in Georgia.
(continues in link) One would like Poland, Europe, and the world to have good relations with Russia, but Moscow has to want it too. ... more -
The F Word: Where Iraq and Main Street Meet
Even as Congress urges aid to Wall Street, there are many running for office around the country today pledging to cut federal budgets on things like social spending, public services, and aid to financially strapped communities.
John McCain in the first presidential debate came on strong as a spending cutter. He's for the bail out -- but he pledged that if elected he'd freeze all other government spending -- all of it -- except for spending on war and care for vets.
But you can't hurt communities and help Vets at the same time. The fact is, more than 200,000 veterans are homeless today -- they're not just affected by what goes on in Main Street America, they may be living right there. And a disproportionate number of our service men and women come from rural America - some of the most economically stressed places in the country. They joined the military, many of them, because of the absence of other opportunities in their home towns.
Military families are poor families. Of a total of 700,000 spouses across all services, the Defense Department reports that about half are married to enlisted persons making less than $20,000 a year.
Thousands of military families rely on food stamps to get through the month. That’s right: the families of our troops need food stamps to feed themselves. Writes one Vietnam veteran on the website, The Olympian: “Without food stamps, many military families would not survive.”
If deficit spending's ok to help failed bankers or finance a war of choice -- don't tell us we have to shrink budgets where Main Street America is concerned. That's where military families live. Better yet, you want to help military families? Bring the troops home.
The $10 billion we're spending now on the Occupation -- Just think what it could do. Even as Congress urges aid to Wall Street, there are many running for office around the country today pledging to cut federal budgets ... more -
The Veteran Mystique
The true cost of the war in Iraq will be far greater than the government's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Some estimates are as high as $3 trillion when all is said and done.
In the first presidential debate McCain and Obama displayed the bracelets that had been given to them by the families of fallen soldiers. Susan Donnelly, a mother who works for peace and for veterans and an activist with Code Pink, says that maybe McCain should try wearing 4,000 bracelets. McCain's entire campaign is riding on his service in Vietnam and his "veteran mystique." But his record on voting for veterans is poor. So where does he stand and should the children of our nation's leaders serve in foreign wars? John Eisenhower had a recent op-ed in the New York Times arguing that presidential children don't belong in battle.
On GRITtv we discuss the war and where the candidates stand on Veteran affairs with Paula Rogovin, of Military Families Speak Out, Jose Vasquez, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Susan Donnelly, a mother and CodePink activist. The true cost of the war in Iraq will be far greater than the government's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Some est... more -
Palin's Apocalypse
Christian journalist and leading expert on the religious right Chip Berlet has a list of questions he'd like Mrs. Palin to answer.
Does she see herself as a warrior for Christ in the New Apostolic Movement? Does her support for Israel have anything to do with The End Times and apocalyptic biblical prophecy? That's what her home church espouses, and that's no exaggeration. Meet the players here, as Harry Hanbury of the American News Project reports on the preachers in Palin's Apocalypse.
So, let's get down to it. Does Sarah Palin believe in the Anti-Christ?
Does she believe true Christians will be whisked up to heaven sometime in the near future? Does she expect Jesus to come back to earth in our lifetimes and battle the armies of Satan? Would biblical prophecies about Armageddon influence her foreign policy positions on Israel and Russia? These are urgent questions the media have failed to ask. According to Berlet, mainstream reporters tend to view apocalyptic fundamentalists as a "silly little side show" in American political life, when, in fact, one of their own may soon be a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world. Christian journalist and leading expert on the religious right Chip Berlet has a list of questions he'd like Mrs. Palin to answer... more -
The F Word: Phony Wars and Real Ones
There’s an awful lot of joking, jiving and just plain goof in this election. Sarah Palin alone has attracted an avalanche of spoof. Campaign ads on both sides are so over-the-top as to induce disbelief.
One of the most serious elections in our lifetimes is playing out as entertainment television. But it's not very entertaining if you're watching in Afghanistan or Iraq, where despite claims of success, killing continues and the prospects of enduring peace – after years of intense fighting – are grim. A 100,000-strong Sunni militia remains loyal to the US so long as the monthly stipends keep on coming. After that, who knows?
Discontent in Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Yemen and even Saudi Arabia threatens to explode, there's so much poverty and corruption. And Israel and the Palestinians seem worlds away from achieving a meaningful peace. Even within his own party, former Israeli prime minister Olmert’s call for Israel to relinquish East Jerusalem and the West Bank is likely to fall on deaf ears.
The only war we've been hearing about recently is the phony one in Congress. The House and Senate have been said to be "battling it out" over the baiiout. That's looking like it'll end with a grand Kum-bay-yah for Wall St. But that doesn't mean the real wars are over. The US invasion of Iraq has cost as much as the $700 billion bailout already, and there's no end in sight.
That's nothing to laugh about. There’s an awful lot of joking, jiving and just plain goof in this election. Sarah Palin alone has attracted an avalanche of spoof. Ca... more -
The Deadly Infantilization of American Politics: Robert Fisk and Patricia DeGennar...
Perhaps the Iraq occupation has taken a back seat to the US economy in the minds of the American electorate. Yet we want and need a little more foreign policy discussion out of this campaign. How is it possible to unfairly grill a prospective commander in chief on a raging war? After 8 years of Bush, have our expectations for what a top leader can articulate fallen so low as to make a meaningful debate impossible?
To take the measure of U.S. foreign policy in this campaign, we turn to Robert Fisk, Britain's foremost foreign correspondent, who writes for the Independent and author of a new collection of essays, The Age of the Warrior; and Patricia DeGennaro, Professor at New York University and founder of the Institute for Integrated International Policy. Perhaps the Iraq occupation has taken a back seat to the US economy in the minds of the American electorate. Yet we want and need a li... more -
US won't put diplomats in Iran
The Bush administration has shelved plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran, in part over fears it could affect the U.S. presidential race or be interpreted as political meddling, The Associated Press has learned.
The proposal to send U.S. diplomats to Tehran for the first time in three decades attracted great attention when it was first floated seriously over the summer but has now been placed on indefinite hold as November's election nears and Iran continues to defy demands to halt suspect nuclear activities, officials told the AP.
Two administration officials familiar with the matter spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations on the sensitive subject.
The officials said a decision had been made to leave the decision to the next U.S. president because it could be seen as a reward for Iran's nuclear intransigence, especially when Iran policy has become a key part of the heated campaign between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
Obama has called for unconditional direct talks with the leaders of so-called rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea, assuming that groundwork laid by lower-level officials indicated that the top-level talks would be fruitful.
McCain has ridiculed the suggestion as naive.
Thus, opening an interest section, or de facto embassy, in Tehran could be interpreted as a Republican president helping a Republican nominee by neutralizing a distinction that might make the Democrat appealing. Or, it could be seen as hurting McCain by leaving him to defend a more hard-line position than the current Republican president's.
Either way, the administration concluded that now was not the time. The Bush administration has shelved plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran, in part over fears it could affect the U.S. presiden... more -
Old flame cited as part of McCain's Latin experience
BY FRANCES ROBLES
Sen. John McCain's senior foreign policy advisor cites a steamy romance 50 years ago with a Brazilian babe among the things that illustrate the candidate's decades-long interest in Latin America.
Speaking at an Americas Conference panel discussion Friday on the next U.S. president's Latin American policy, McCain advisor Richard Fontaine started out by mentioning an old Brazilian flame of McCain's, who recently emerged in the press.
''Talking a little about his personal experience, he was famously born in Panama and has traveled all over the hemisphere for many years.'' Fontaine said. ``In fact, I saw, I guess it was last week, that his old girlfriend in Brazil has been found from his early days when he was in the Navy and was interviewed. She's a somewhat older woman now than she was then, but it sorta speaks to the long experience he has had in the region -- in the most positive terms.''
Fontaine was referring to former model Maria Gracinda Teixeira de Jesus, who recently gave an interview to O Globo saying the former sailor was quite the kisser. According to McCain's memoirs, `Faith of My Fathers,` they met in 1957, when his ship, the USS Hunt docked in Brazil.
''I called him John but also my darling and my sweet coconut,'' she said. ``He was a great kisser. I liked it so much that I bought a book to learn how to kiss myself.''
Asked afterward about whether he was suggesting that McCain's fling with a Latin hottie counted as Latin America foreign policy experience, Fontaine said: ''The only thing I was trying to convey was that his experience goes back a long way,'' Fontaine said. ``He was born in Panama, which illustrates a lifetime spent in Latin America. He has known a lot of people. The thing about the Brazilian girlfriend was in his first memoir, and it stuck in my brain. Look at the two candidates and contrast his extensive experience. That's the only point I was trying to make.''
For her part, Teixeira said McCain wasn't just good at smooching. She recalled details of their Rio romp and how she'd pick him up in her turquoise blue Cadillac El Dorado convertible. McCain's book remembers it being a Mercedes Benz.
''He was not only a good kisser, he was good at everything,'' she said. ``He was a great love of mine. But he left and it ended. Otherwise, I would be up there with him. Only that our lives were different, I was a model and he was a military man who traveled a lot. I'll never forget him, and I would never have imagined that he would write a book and talk about me.''
If he wins the White House race, she says she will send a telegram congratulating him. She'll sign it, ``your great Brazilian love.''
Special correspondents Alejandra Labanca and Francisco Maradiaga contributed to this report. BY FRANCES ROBLES ... more -
British Prime Minister makes shocking cabinet shuffle.
British prime minister Gordon Brown, Labour Party, British government, British, fortunes, finance, economy, resignation, cabinet shuffle, political,controversial, Peter Mandelson, Tony Blair, resign, scandalous. American, melt down, trade commissioner, European Union, business, trade and industry, Blairite faction, foreign minister, David Miliband, Conservative Party British prime minister Gordon Brown, Labour Party, British government, British, fortunes, finance, economy, resignation, cabinet shuf... more
-
Two Bidens on Democracy in The Middle East?
This was a very different Biden from the one we heard in the debate last night. Check the transcript on his comments about Lebanon and Hezbollah (about which he seems to be very confused) and try to reconcile them with the Joe Biden who penned this piece in May 2005. This was a very different Biden from the one we heard in the debate last night. Check the transcript on his comments about Lebanon an... more
-
related topics
Foreign Policy
Contributors (576)
Foreign Policy
