Against the backdrop of Chinese territorial assertiveness, the year started off with the bang of big-ticket U.S. arms sales to treaty allies and strategic partners across the region, including an expanded package of sophisticated military hardware featuring state-of-the-art anti-missile systems and warplanes. On top of this, Washington has also stepped-up its joint military exercises with Asian allies perched on the forefront of ongoing territorial spats.
This outmigration is often referred to as a “brain drain,” though many who remained in Bulgaria bristle at this phrase.
If former Defence Secretary-designate Sen. Chuck Hagel’s lacklustre performance at his confirmation hearing Thursday heartened neo-conservatives and other hawks opposed to his nomination, those who argued that the Israel lobby has been exerting too great an influence on U.S. foreign policy were ecstatic. In fact, the degree to which Israel and the threat posed to it by Iran dominated the hearing was somewhat understated: The full transcript revealed that Israel was brought up no less than 178 times, followed closely by Iran with 171 mentions.
Speculation that President Obama might put significant effort into Israel-Palestine peace was fueled by his nominees for two key Cabinet posts: John Kerry for secretary of state and former Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defence. Since Obama’s re-election, however, there has been considerable debate in the U.S. media about whether he would re-engage in peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.
Experts traveled to El Salvador to gain insight into how a truce between the gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 led to a marked decrease in violence.
Discontent with President Isaias Afewerki reached a breaking point last week when rogue soldiers seized the Eritrean Information Ministry.
The Serbian parliament’s call for more autonomy for ethnic Serbians living in Kosovo actually serves as an implicit acknowledgment of Kosovo’s sovereignty.
Africa will no longer accept being treated like a second-class continent.
The Syrian regime is supported by China, Iran, and Russia, the rebels by the United States and its Arab allies, and Europe.
Northern Mali stands poised to provide the working definition of a quagmire.