International Nation

2008-12-08T10:34:00.001-08:00

Foreign Policy sites

2008-12-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

I have bookmarked some interesting Web Sites relating to foreign policy here. Feel free to add.

Bush is relaxing his foreign policy ideals, albeit a bit late in the game.

2008-12-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

According to an article in today's San Francisco Chronicle, President Bush is changing is spots, so to speak, in the foreign policy department.

Whether he's trying to smooth things out for Obama or trying to make a last minute impact, Bush is loosening up his isolationist approach.

Perhaps the choices the current administration is making right now reflect what we're going to see over the next four years under Obama...

Take a look at the article here.

Straight from the editors' mouths

2008-12-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting and informative blog from the editors of Foreign Policy magazine.

There are almost daily posts from multiple writers, which makes for a well-rounded tone and a broad perspective.

Today's top story is in regards to Condoleezza Rice having arrived in New Delhi, India, in response to the terrorist activity in Mumbai.

CUB Soundslides

2008-12-02T20:05:00.001-08:00

For those holiday travelers...

2008-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

It seems the U.S. government is suggesting an isolationist approach when it comes to foreign policy of the individual American citizen. Among others, the U.S. government is discouraging its citizens from traveling to Thailand right now, due to the recent protests and the fact that all international airports in Thailand have been brought to a standstill.

Here's an article from CNN that quoted statements from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, who are both basically saying "make our lives easier and stay home."

For those unfamiliar with the current political situation in Thailand, the people of Thailand are having trouble getting multibillionaire media tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra's sticky little fingers out of their government. He was elected Prime Minister in 2001, but when he didn't keep his promises, he was ousted (peacefully) out of office by protestors in 2006 only to be replaced by...his brother-in-law.

Obama picks his team

2008-12-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

Though it had been expected for several days, President-elect Obama officially announced his selections for secretary of defense, secretary of state, and national security advisor. In the linked story, David Sanger for the New York Times wrote that this team represents a shift a foreign policy priorities. In the story, one of Obama's senior advisers is quoted as calling the cabinet, "the great foreign policy experiment of the Obama presidency."

When campaigning, a lack of foreign policy experience was one of the most common criticisms Obama faced. The team of Clinton, Gates, and Gen. James L. Jones, the former NATO commander, make up for this to an extent with their combined experience.

Here is a full list of Obama's cabinet and other high-profile postions including those already filled and those pending.

Foreign Policy is a top priority for 2009

2008-11-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

The chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been organizing their priorities for this next year, and U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen was kind enough to share his perspective with Media-Newswire.com in this article.

As they should be, foreign policy issues have found a place at the top of the U.S. to-do list.

Other People's News

2008-11-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

Good morning.

I guess you could say I'm one of those "both sides of the coin" people, in that I enjoy seeing all the perspectives that connect to make the whole.

On that note, take a look at this.

It's an article from the Hindustan Times about their perspective on Obama being our next president.

Is President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy dangerous for America?

2008-11-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

Some people are worried about President-elect Barack Obama foreign policy plan because he wants to have talks with leaders in Iran and other Middle East country leaders. They are worried it will put our country at greater risk.

Obama and Clinton may be more similar than they realize

2008-11-16T22:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a brief yet interesting article on how President elect Barack Obama's views on foreign policy may not be as different from Hilary Clinton's as many think.

The article seems to be more a column than a news piece, but it poses some thought-provoking ideas nonetheless.

Check it out here.

Discussion on the future of foreign policy

2008-11-12T09:34:00.001-08:00

Since being elected the next president of the United States, there has been a lot of speculation about the future of the country under Obama's leadership. Democracy Now! recently hosted a roundtable discussion about the future of foreign policy when he takes over. The discussion included filmmaker and investigative journalist John Pilger in Britain, Columbia University professor and Africa scholar Mahmood Mamdani, Laura Carlsen of the Center for International Policy in Mexico City, Iraqi analyst Raed Jarrar, Pakistani author Tariq Ali, and Palestinian American Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada. The discussion is available through audio, video, and text via this link.

Future of Foreign Policy Video

2008-11-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

Video Project

2008-11-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

Another foreign policy blog

2008-10-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Speaking of blogs, just as our blog is dedicated to foreign policy issues, there are a number of others.

In particular, I was struck by this blog, which is run through the Foreign Policy Association.

It shows how important an issue foreign policy is, not only for Americans, but also for the rest of the world.

Joe Biden: a "liberal interventionist"

2008-10-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

I found an interesting article from yesterday's Miami Herald regarding the foreign policy ideals of Joe Biden, Obama's running mate.

Long story short, Biden is a typical politician/typical human being that has made an array of decisions and held a variety of opinions throughout his life, and it's these decisions and opinions in conglomerate that are being analyzed in an effort to determine where exactly Biden stands with foreign policy.

The article comes to the conclusion that Biden rests in, big suprise, the middle. I recommend reading the article for yourself, and even doing some outside research, so that you can develop your own opinion or confirm this one.

-Cayla Lambier

Iran is willing, U.S. is chilling.

2008-10-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article from yesterday's Washington Post.

Basically, the U.S. is somewhat dropping the ball when it comes to connecting with Iran. The situation is not unlike two middle school students who have a crush on each other, and communicate via friends (the media.)

The U.S. has the media tell Iran that they're interested, and then Iran tells the media to tell the U.S. that if the U.S. wants to get to know Iran better, than the U.S. has to actually ask them out to a movie.

Or an interests section.

Original article here.

U.S. Proposal Yet To Reach Iran
Thomas Erdbrink, Washington Post, Tuesday, October 14, 2008; A13

Iran has yet to receive a request from the United States to open an interests section here, officials said Monday, but analysts added that such a proposal would probably get a positive response. "We have had no request from the United States on this issue," said Hassan Qashqavi, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "First we need a request, and then we can consider it."

David Ignatius of The Washington Post wrote in a column Sunday that the Bush administration plans to announce the opening of a U.S. interests section in Tehran in mid-November.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told state television in an interview last week: "Our stance remains the same: We would react favorably to any positive signals indicating the will for communication on the basis of respect and justice."

But some Iranian officials expressed frustration at ambiguous statements from unnamed U.S. officials quoted by the media. "They are talking to us through the media but not making any official requests for negotiations," Kazem Jalali, a spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said recently. "Iran will seriously consider any official request from the United States government for talks," Jalali said. "But if that is not made, nothing can happen."

Iran’s position marks a change from when any talk of relations with the United States was taboo in Iranian politics. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who oversees all foreign policy issues, would have to agree to the opening of any U.S. representative office in the country. Since the idea was floated in Washington in August, Iranian politicians who are in regular contact with him have been positive and have made clear that such a request from the United States would be considered.

"It is clear from the positive responses from Iranian officials that if such a request would be made, the Iranian system would accept it," said Davoud Hermidas Bavand, professor of international relations at the Allameh Tabatabai University in Tehran.

Analysts here said the U.S. gesture would have to be made carefully. Rahman Ghahremanpour, an analyst at Iran’s Center for Strategic Studies, said, "The U.S. can’t say, ‘We are opening an interest section in Iran, and that’s final.’ That will not be regarded as positive. The announcement should be a start of negotiations on the subject." Ghahremanpour supports the idea of an opening. "The language should not be confrontational but diplomatic and geared toward open negotiations," he said. "Such an announcement cannot be made unilaterally by the United States without consulting Iran first. That should be clear."

If proposed in a nonconfrontational way, the announcement would be regarded as a confidence-building measure, he added. "The Iranian system knows that sooner or later it will have to talk to America, even though domestically there might be resistance by some political groups. They are ready."

Student Perspective on Presidential Foreign Policy

2008-10-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Audio project 1

2008-10-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Sad Commentary?

2008-09-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here, an attorney practicing in Los Angeles weighs in on the foreign policy experience of the presidential candidates and their running mates. Hot spots of the post include little known facts on the history of our past leaders' international prowess. It sheds a different light on the current campaigners than is usually found amongst the talking points of the major news networks.

The author's slant appears to be towards the right in this piece but still brings relevant information to the table.

Link

Palin to attend UN General Assembly opening

2008-09-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

To address criticism about his lack of foreign policy experience, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama went on a tour of Europe.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has received similar criticism and is now doing what she can to improve her image on foreign policy. She is scheduled to meet with international leaders at the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York. The story, from Telegraph.co.uk, shows that the rest of the world is also closely following the U.S. elections.

According to the story, Palin's only other trip abroad was to visit Alaska National Guard troops in Kuwait and the border of Iraq, and to see wounded soldiers in Germany. Democrats have mocked Palin about her need for a passport, or lack of need, with her limited traveling experience.

Though she won't be leaving the country, Palin is scheduled to meet Henry Kissinger, possibly the new Pakistani president, the president of Afghanistan, and the president of Georgia, among others at the UN opening.

This may be a step in the right direction for Palin to show she is trying to become more informed about U.S. foreign policy, but as the article points out, she still remains extremely vulnerable to criticism about her limited experience.

Presidential candidate Bob Barr on McCain-Palin's foreign policy

2008-09-19T15:23:00.000-07:00

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr has written a new press release on John McCain and Sarah Palin's foreign policy. Barr says that the McCain-Palin foreign policy would be a continuation of the Bush Administration's. Barr says that one of Palin's foreign policy briefers is Joe Lieberman. We all know that Lieberman is close to McCain and is a strong supporter of the War on Terrorism and voted for the Patriot Act. It should be noted that Barr did in fact vote for the Patriot Act and voted for the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998. His voting record on foreign policy when he was in Congress does not support what his views are today.

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/124/barr-says-mccain-palin-foreign-policy-to-continue-failed-bush-approach/
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h1998-482

Essay on Russian/Georgian exchanges

2008-09-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

The "London Review of Books" is a prominent literary magazine that has published essays from writers such as Terry Eagleton, Stephen Sedley and Jacqueline Rose.

Tony Wood, from the "New Left Review," recently (as in yesterday) published an essay in the LRB about the current situation between Russia, Georgia and other surrounding nations. It also addresses steps taken by the U.S. to diffuse tensions.

Check out the article here if you're looking for some light weekend reading.

-Cayla Lambier