Irish Politics Go to the Toilet
Valerie Nichols | March 30, 2009
The UK press has been having a field day with a caricatures of the Irish premier in a compromising if not at all uncommon situation. While the controversy is admittedly entertaining, it poses some interesting questions about the limits of political expression.
Brown Global Stimulus Plea Falls on Deaf Ears
James Joyner | March 29, 2009
Gordon Brown's call for a "global new deal," in which the G20 leaders would provide more than $2 trillion in stimulus to fight the global recession, is finding no takers in Europe.
Obama's Afghanistan Plan: What's So New About It?
James Joyner | March 28, 2009
President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan has won the backhanded praise of Hamid Karzai, who termed it "better than we were expecting." Gordon Brown has lauded the plan as well and called for NATO to do more.
Economist Has Buyer's Remorse on Obama
James Joyner | March 28, 2009
The editorial board at The Economist (which apparently considers itself a "newspaper" despite coming out weekly in magazine format) praises President Obama for having "already done some commendable things" in the foreign policy arena but charges that, domestically, "His performance has been weaker than those who endorsed his candidacy, including this newspaper, had hoped."
New Afghanistan Plan: Still No Exit Strategy
James Joyner | March 27, 2009
President Obama gave a speech this morning outlining his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which served as the unveiling of a (slightly) more detailed white paper [PDF].
Stay Out of the Protectionist Trap
James Joyner | March 27, 2009
EU Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes, speaking last night at the Atlantic Council, called for "tough love" to be applied to failing institutions and implored governments to avoid taking shortcuts that will cause long term damage to the world economy. She also expressed hope that the United States and Europe will cooperate in solving the "first modern global recession."
Russia Ending War in Chechnya?
James Joyner | March 27, 2009
Russia appears ready to declare victory and end its struggle in the breakaway republic of Chechna, Radio Free Europe reports. Budget concerns, rather than a change of heart or conditions on the ground, is the likely culprit.
U.S. Commander: Keep Brigades in Germany
James Joyner | March 27, 2009
The commander of U.S. forces in Europe is urging keeping two heavy brigades in Germany rather than sending them back to the United States, citing the benefits of training with NATO allies and logistical advantages for regional deployments.
Is Gordon Brown the British Leader?
James Joyner | March 26, 2009
Daniel Hannan, a Member of the European Parliament, launched a "three-and-a-half-minute diatribe" against Gordon Brown earlier this week, calling him "The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued government." This earned him a tongue-lashing from Labour MP Tom Harris as "truly repugnant" for "the total absence of any sense of patriotism."
Geithner Dollar Remarks Create Panic
James Joyner | March 26, 2009
The call earlier this week by the head of China's central bank for a new world reserve currency to replace the dollar got a surprising second yesterday from U.S. treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, who told the Council on Foreign Relations that the administration is "quite open" to the idea. Shockingly, this did not go over well with those holding large dollar reserves.
