U.S. relations with Latin American countries, from Venezuela to Colombia, run the gamut.
U.S. “Democracy Promotion” May Sour President Obama’s Welcome at Summit of the Americas
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Democracy & Governance
Obama Requests Slightly Higher Aid Levels for 2013
WASHINGTON, Feb 14, 2012 (IPS) – Despite strong pressure to reduce the yawning federal deficit, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is asking Congress for a slight increase in funding for the State Department and foreign aid next year.
Preventing a Blowout in the Arctic
In September 2011, Vladimir Putin announced a program to begin offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling in the Russian Arctic. Putin is also interested in creating new sea terminals, which he said would rival the Suez and Panama Canals. In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30 percent of the world’s undiscovered gas lay beneath the Arctic Seas. The United States, Canada, Norway, Greenland, and Russia, which make up the Arctic 5, are each interested in tapping these Arctic energy reserves.
Bipartisan Strategy Takes Shape To Close Overseas U.S. Bases
At a time when bipartisanship on Capitol Hill has essentially disappeared, an intriguing example of cross-party consensus has emerged in a relatively obscure area of foreign policy: closing overseas military bases.
Burma: Don’t Believe the Hype
Burma’s President Thein Sein’s token democratic measures show he may still be but a front for the previous ruling junta.
Israel’s War on Democracy (and Why Americans Should Be Concerned)
Right-wing legislators, militant settlers, and a growing religious divide in the Israeli army threaten to silence internal opposition to the Netanyahu government.
Scotland Rallies Anew Around Cries for Secession
The majority party in Scotland’s parliament is calling for Scottish independence.
Will the GOP Own Its Position on Israel-Palestine?
The Republican National Committee unanimously adopted a resolution disavowing the party’s previous commitment to a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine and endorsing the Israeli annexation of the Palestinian territories.
Steer clear of this climate ‘Ponzi scheme’
LAST winter, when carbon prices fell 15% in one week, industry analysts called it “carnage”. Then, in the fortnight before last month’s Durban climate summit, carbon prices fell more than 30%, with front-year European Union (EU) Allowance permits dropping below €8,50 a ton. And they have crashed even further since.
Bad-Judgment Jonathan Incites Public, Boko Haram
Questions remain about how well Nigeria’s government will manage public dissatisfaction, ethnic and religious divisions, and violent resistance from the Islamist Boko Haram movement.