Russia Archives - Page 29 of 64 - Foreign Policy In Focus

Can Beijing and Moscow Help with Tehran?

by Ehsan Ahrari, John Feffer | Dec 30, 2009

The real test of President Barack Obama’s dealing with China and Russia will be whether he can persuade them to support U.S. pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear weapons aspirations. Obama is reported to have lobbied China on that issue during his recent visit. He also broached the topic with Russia in the recent past for the same purpose, but with little success. Iran denies wanting to join the nuclear club, but Washington has no faith in those denials.

Geneva Conventions Still Hold Up

by Kenneth Roth | Dec 30, 2009

What needs rewriting is not the Geneva Conventions but Israel’s abusive and illegal war strategy.

The AfPak Train Wreck

by John Feffer, Conn Hallinan | Dec 7, 2009

When President Barack Obama laid out his plan for winning the war in Afghanistan, behind him stood an army of ghosts: Greeks, Mongols, Buddhists, British, and Russians, all whom had almost the same illusions as the current resident of the Oval Office about Central Asia. The first four armies are dust. But there are Russian survivors of the 1979-89 war that ended up killing 15,000 Soviets and hundreds of thousands of Afghans as well as virtually wrecking Moscow’s economy.

Lessons from Moscow and Tehran

by Emily Schwartz Greco, Benjamin Tua | May 27, 2009

Following three decades of mutually hostile postures characterized by minimal communication and limited and sporadic cooperation, the United States and Iran may be about to reengage more constructively.

Such a development, while important for us, would be of even greater significance for the greater Middle East and beyond. Its impact on a variety of relationships, including that between the United States and Israel, and those between Israel and its neighbors, would be transformative and positive. But much must happen by way of careful and persistent diplomacy to get the various moving parts in place. As Washington proceeds to restructure what is probably the key relationship in the region — namely, that between itself and Iran — it would do well to consider how another country has approached its own relations with Iran, in good times and bad. That country is Russia.

A More Expensive Bill for North Korea

by Brent (Won-Ki) Choi, Jennifer Doak, Joowoon Jung | May 22, 2009

This essay is part of a strategic dialogue on North Korea that includes this article by John Feffer. The authors respond to each other here.

Russia and Iran Get Strategic

by Sam Gardiner, Erik Leaver | Jan 27, 2009

While many analysts predicted a rosier picture for U.S.-Iranian relations with the Obama administration, the situation is rapidly becoming profoundly more difficult and more complicated. The new dimension is Russia.

What To Do Now in Georgia

by John Feffer, Ian Williams | Aug 19, 2008

There are no saints and even fewer geniuses in the conflict between Russia and Georgia over Ossetia. However, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, clearly the real power in Moscow, has certain proven himself even less saintly than other parties – and in the long term, less clever. Albeit with serious input from American miscalculations and atavistic politics and with the help of the hapless Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili, Putin has made both Russia, and the world, a more dangerous place.

Big Three Block Iran Attack

by William O. Beeman, John Feffer | Aug 18, 2008

The United States is in a huge foreign policy muddle in the Middle East. It wants to dominate and control Iran but requires the support of the world community to accomplish its aims. Diplomacy and sanctions require only a low level of support. On the other hand, to launch a military attack or green-light one by Israel, the United States needs far more backing.

Christians United for Israel and Attacking Iran

by Farrah Hassen, Dedrick Muhammad | Aug 18, 2008

The “squeeze Iran” and “confront Iran” positions are strongly encouraged by the increasingly powerful Zionist Christian Fundamentalist community. About 5,000 people from across the United States attended the third annual Washington-Israel Summit, organized by Christians United for Israel (CUFI). There, the “Iranian threat” loomed as a pervasive theme.

Russia’s Anti-Democratic Paradox

by Anna Arutunyan | Aug 15, 2008

With one hundred days in office and a war with Georgia under his belt, Dmitry Medvedev still has Western politicians confused. Who is really in charge – he or his mentor, Vladimir Putin? Is Medvedev really a liberal? But then why the “disproportionate” attack on Georgia?