( Foreign Policy in Focus) – In October 1944, with the end of World War II in sight, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin passed a note back and forth to each other at a conference in Moscow. On the piece of paper, Churchill had assigned percentages to several Eastern European countries. Stalin amended the numbers, […]
Biden wants the US Carbon Neutral by 2050, but Can he Paint the Whole World Green?
( Foreign Policy in Focus) – Once upon a time, a rich hypochondriac was complaining about pains in his head and stomach. He consulted a wise man who pointed out that the root of the problem lay somewhere else: in the man’s eyes. To resolve the persistent headache and stomachache, the sage suggested focusing on […]
The Claudius Presidency
(Foreign Policy in Focus ) – Caligula was by all accounts a nasty piece of work. During the nearly four years that he ruled over the Roman empire in the first century CE, Caligula was notorious for sexual predation and extravagant spending. Never one to sell himself short, he proclaimed early on that he was […]
‘An Obstructive Body’ and ‘menace to liberties’: How the U.S. Senate is a Global Problem
( Foreign Policy in Focus) – The acquittal of Trump was bad, but the Senate’s approach to foreign affairs over the years has been even worse. By John Feffer | February 17, 2021 Watching the Senate conduct the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump brought back a flood of memories from high school. I distinctly […]
Not just a US Domestic Threat: Beating Back the Far Right Globally
It’s time to resurrect a global anti-fascist consensus to name, shame, and throw these guys out of the game. ( Foreign Policy in Focus) – After four years of shock, confusion, and paralysis, the United States is finally taking action against the far right. Perhaps most dramatic has been the deplatforming of Donald Trump: the […]
America, the Fickle Superpower: World Welcomes Biden, but fears more Trumps
( Tomdispatch.com ) – The nightmare is over. The vanquished beast has crawled back to Mar-a-Lago to lick his wounds. The heroes are hard at work repairing the damage. As America returns to the international stage, the world heaves a collective sigh of relief. That, at least, is the story the incoming Biden administration is […]
Maybe now the U.S. should stop talking down to the World about “Democracy Promotion”
Because of the events of the last weeks, months and years, should “democracy promotion” be permanently removed from the U.S. foreign policy lexicon? ( Foreign Policy in Focus) – On Inauguration Day 2021, the nation’s capital looks like it has just experienced a coup, not successfully survived one. Streets are blocked off, barricades are up, […]
America and the Mob
( Foreign Policy in Focus) – The far right has come out in support of Trump. After the failed coup attempt of January 6, what’s next? The United States began as a glint in the eyes of an English mob of oddballs, dissenters, and criminals let loose on what they considered virgin territory. Once secure […]
How America’s Denialism– Elections, COVID, Climate — is Leading to its Downfall
( Foreign Policy in Focus ) – The refusal of tens of millions of Americans to recognize the election results is part of a much larger denialism — of COVID-19, of climate change, and U.S. decline. The presidential election wasn’t close. Joe Biden won the popular vote by more than 7 million votes, which translates […]
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