What if the Islamic State wins?
If Islamic State cannot be defeated militarily, and if “degrading” it remains a distant and uncertain outcome, then everyone may have to accept that the... Read More
Mistakes were made
Global inequality – countries divided into “haves” and “have-nots” – leads to whole groups feeling that the “modern” world has no room for them. They... Read More
Iraq, Syria and the MidEast – what is to be done?
The essential fact of the sectarian conflicts (internal and external) that have characterized the MidEast for decades has been the artificial boundaries left behind by... Read More
Russia/China – containment?
Any effort to contain Russian and China should accept that they will insist on their own regional interests and that none of us has anything... Read More
Kosovo, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq
The struggles by ethnic and religious groups left behind by empire cannot be resolved by outsiders. These competing groups need to find their own way... Read More
Time to do a deal with Assad?
The military options for the West vis-a-vis Iraq and the IS are limited without some ability to operate permissively in Syria. This would require movement... Read More
Breaking Ukraine
Russia has real interests in Ukraine, the West does not. The Ukrainians have fundamental interests. The Western role should be to help them make the... Read More
Why should we care about Crimea?
Beyond the question of what exactly the Western powers expect of Russia and how likely it is that Russia will meet those expectations there is... Read More
US foreign policy and Ukraine
The US might form its policy around building and maintaining multilateral commitment to prevent, diffuse and contain conflicts, using its sense of right and wrong... Read More
Time to begin thinking about world government?
What might a world citizen look like while there is still no world government? The first example might be Edward Snowden. Whether he meant to... Read More
Kosovo – perhaps the Quint still doesn’t understand the North?
A way should be found to ensure Mayor-elect, Krstimir Pantic, can take his place without further delay, whilst the Quint should make clear to Pristina that it will... Read More
The new UN and peacekeeping
The return to robust peacekeeping is a disconcerting development since it raises the whole question of the need for impartiality if peacekeepers are to have... Read More
The new UN peacekeeping
UN reform of peacekeeping seems to mean mainly focusing on two instances – when civilian deaths in a conflict or failing state are actually or... Read More
Kosovo – the way forward?
Reaching the point of enabling some degree of normality in the north and between local and central institutions in Kosovo and Serbia will be a... Read More
Kosovo – “successful” election just first step
The EU – with US support – has helped broker a framework that puts the current frozen conflict between Serbia and Kosovo onto a path... Read More
Kosovo – what next?
When the election is run again, it will hopefully take place with adequate EULEX presence and with UN as well as OSCE observation. Whatever the... Read More
Kosovo – what if the election fails?
Detaching membership – for both Serbia and Kosovo – from finding an immediate solution to the Kosovo issue might help everyone move forward with a... Read More
Fundamentalists take US hostage
Will the Tea Party fundamentalists see the light and release their hostage before the US plunges into default in mid-October? Will the Republican leadership finally... Read More
Kosovo – conflict or politics?
Some may say that Serbs always prefer heroics to acting rationally in their own self-interest. But Serbs love their children too. If for no one... Read More
What is Belgrade doing with Kosovo?
Kosovo Serbs – north and south of the Ibar – believe that Belgrade is giving Kosovo away to the Albanians. The Albanians may see it... Read More
Syria and a possible UN approach to chemical weapons
The UN would likely play a key role in verifying and overseeing an effort to put Syria’s weapons under international control. But the UN Security... Read More
What should the US do on Syria?
For the US to act as part of the international community and through the UN, it must commit itself in this particular case – and... Read More
R2P and International Law
The responsibility to protect is an international responsibility and not the exclusive burden of any one country, not even the US. But the use of... Read More
There never was an “Arab Spring”
With the top of the leadership pyramid removed, the societies left behind were rife with internal divisions. Without any historical experience, or sufficient wealth to divide... Read More
Kosovo – to vote or not to vote?
Belgrade’s position is that the elections must be conducted in a status neutral manner. Though the Kosovo government has said no decision has been made... Read More
