Commentaries Archives - Foreign Policy In Focus

Iraq Outlook 2008

by Erik Leaver, Emily Schwartz Greco | Jan 9, 2008

January 10th marks the one year anniversary of Bush’s “surge” strategy. Many analysts are now claiming the “surge” is a success, but with no end in sight to the war, the year of the “surge” really is a tale of two Iraqs. Coming off a very deadly end to 2006, the first half of 2007 brought some of the highest levels of violence and displacement since the war began. But by the middle of the year, the level of violence reportedly began to drop, with December being the second least violent for U.S. troops since 2003. But the current calm has been crafted on a foundation that can topple at any moment, leaving its “success” in doubt.

Lantos’ Tarnished Legacy

by Emily Schwartz Greco, Stephen Zunes | Jan 8, 2008

Pundits responded to news of the retirement of Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA) at the end of his current term with platitudes and praise. They have focused primarily on his heroic role as a Holocaust survivor and member of the anti-Nazi resistance in his native Hungary as well as his leadership on human rights issues in Congress, serving as the founder and longtime co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

Bush’s Israel Problem — And Ours

by Ira Chernus, John Feffer | Jan 8, 2008

No one knows what’s in George W. Bush’s mind as he heads off for Israel and Palestine. Perhaps he himself doesn’t know exactly why he’s making the trip. But if he is really going to burnish his legacy by moving both sides closer to peace, as the pundits say, he faces enormous problems on both sides.

Roumen Yanovski

by John Feffer | Jan 7, 2008

Kenya’s Violence: Britain’s Legacy

by Emily Schwartz Greco, David Zarembka | Jan 4, 2008

It’s hard to fathom how a rigged election could produce such violence as burning women and children alive in a church. But that’s what happened in the Kenya Assemblies of God Church in Kiambaa, just outside the town of Eldoret in western Kenya. Unfortunately, it didn’t come as a surprise to me or others living in the region.