American Indifference

Since Sunday night PBS has treated viewers to a stunning series of documentary films that examine big themes and ideas that define our post-9/11 world. Last night featured a documentary titled “The Case for War” and the premise was that we would go along with Richard Perle as he travelled from Washington to Kabul to [...]

Kosovo and the Democratic Party

Peter Beinart has a pretty smart column in the new issue of the new (and much improved) TIME magazine about the future of Democratic Party foreign policy. (I offer this praise despite the unfortunate Prince reference that closes the piece). Beinart dials back the clock to 1999 and the non-UN sanctioned fight a US-UK NATO-led [...]

Rogue Aid

Rather lazy for a blogger to just cannibalize off the New York Times op-ed page but this piece by Foreign Policy editor (and interviewee of yours truly) Moisés Naím describes an emerging and disturbing trend in international relations so adeptly and succinctly, it’s worth all the gnawing on the Grey Lady’s bones. Filthy-Lucre Quote:
“In recent [...]

Neo-Realism on the Left

I do not think most of us grasp just how dramatically the Iraq War has upended the traditional schools of thought when it comes to formulating American foreign policy. Occasionally I come across little bits of information – a poll, a quote, a conversation – that makes my jaw drop and my mind reel. I [...]

Weighty Matters

The king and absolute ruler of the smattering of titchy islands that make up the tiny nation of Tonga, Taufa’ahau Tupou IV – once listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most massive monarch at 462 pounds – lies on his (presumably sagging) death bed in a New Zealand hospital. Tonga’s citizens, [...]

Owning Up to Our Own Taint

It has become an article of faith in certain circles that the United States must pursue a more robust policy of regime change in Tehran. Chastened by the difficulties in Iraq, the conventional line is that we must do more to support the reform elements battling against the Islamic government. This view was articulated today [...]

Neoconservatives Hold Bush’s Feet to the Fire

A few days ago, I wrote briefly about the perception that the Bush administration is retreating from the bold democracy promotion agenda articulated most famously in his second inaugural address.
Max Boot has a column in the Los Angeles Times today that harps on some of the same points, but he focuses his ire on the [...]

That’s My Esoteric Subject, Yo!

Incidentally, my talented blog partner has stolen my thunder in writing about the NED’s  “The Backlash Against Democracy,” report. Despite his theft, I plan to roll out some thoughts on the report in the near future. Stay tuned…

The G-8 and Georgia

Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post has a very thoughtful column building off a recent report by the National Endowment of Democracy titled “The Backlash Against Democracy,” [pdf!] which highlights the vamped-up efforts of foreign governments to impede U.S. programs for democracy assistance.
Hiatt notes that when the leaders of the world’s greatest democracies meet in [...]