WASHINGTON — “Bush was right” is not a view frequently expressed in the New York Times. But, there it was, in Thomas Friedman’s March 10 column: “Former President George W. Bush’s gut instinct that this region craved and needed democracy was always right.”
Friedman was referring to … Continue Reading…
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — When Aleksander Lukashenko, the authoritarian president of Belarus, recently began a campaign to intimidate and punish members of the country’s disobedient Polish community, he opened a new front not only with neighboring Poland, but also with the EU as a whole. That challenge must now be met … Continue Reading…
BUCHAREST - In the historic beginnings of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, athletes would all carry olive branches to the Games as a symbol of peace. While the actual olive branches are no longer an official part of the Games, to this very day the Olympics remain … Continue Reading…
Greece is one of the most important investors in the Balkans and most analysts are concerned that the financial crisis will have a spillover effect on the Balkan countries. Greece dominates the region’s banking sector with ownership or control of nearly 28 percent of the financial institutions. With almost 2,000 … Continue Reading…
PARIS - On October 4, 2009, the Greek Socialist Party Pasok scored a large victory in early national elections. With a clear majority (160 out of 300 seats) in the Greek legislature, Pasok’s top candidate George Papandreou became prime minister. A few days later, the new government announced that the budget … Continue Reading…
In his Transatlantic Take piece, Francois Lafond reflects on recent developments and offers some pointers for future economic governance within the Eurozone. Having just returned from Athens, let me add some additional reflections on the potential geopolitical implications of the crisis.
First, the scale of the budget crisis facing the new … Continue Reading…
BRUSSELS — The mood on China in Western capitals is beginning to darken. From cyber-attacks to obstinacy in Copenhagen, Beijing’s assertiveness and the hardening tone of its diplomacy are prompting a rethink. If the competitive aspects of the relationship with China are going to dominate in the years ahead, have … Continue Reading…
WASHINGTON — Israel last week submitted its response to the UN’s Goldstone Report. That report investigated the conduct of Israel and Hamas during the Gaza war in January 2009, accusing both sides of war crimes. It recommended resorting to the International Criminal Court if the sides failed to investigate the … Continue Reading…
WASHINGTON — World leaders meeting in London to discuss Afghanistan’s future have dealt themselves a weak hand. The principal obstacles to success in Afghanistan have not been the adversary’s strength or any lack of support for the international mission by the Afghan public. Rather, the primary obstacles to victory have … Continue Reading…
WASHINGTON — There are two sets of policy issues emanating from the rubble and horror of Port-au-Prince: “Whither Haiti?” and “Whither relief aid?”
With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah visiting the country, most of the attention is on the first question. Is there, policymakers are asking, … Continue Reading…