Friday, November 20, 2009
Aftermath of the President's China Trip
Some of my reaction to the presidential visit to China over at World Politics Review. Beijing is becoming much more confident in how it handles the bilateral relationship and this will certainly have an impact on the fifth generation of leadership.
Speaking of which, I came across an interesting report on the matter by Cheng Li; I am struck by some of the similarities one might draw with the Kremlin leadership, at least the younger members, in terms of diversity on one hand but the "we are all in the same boat" on the other in terms of preserving the system.
Query for TWR readers: any good Chinese studies of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine?
Speaking of which, I came across an interesting report on the matter by Cheng Li; I am struck by some of the similarities one might draw with the Kremlin leadership, at least the younger members, in terms of diversity on one hand but the "we are all in the same boat" on the other in terms of preserving the system.
Query for TWR readers: any good Chinese studies of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thoughts on the Craig Resignation
Just some thoughts on the resignation of White House counsel Greg Craig. Perhaps I'm overestimating the impact, but one of the undercurrents I have started to detect from other countries regarding the Obama administration is that talk is not followed by action ... something I am monitoring.
Comments welcomed.
Comments welcomed.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
The Reality of Eurasia
Chris Marsh and I just published this essay over at Policy Innovations, about the enduring nature of the Eurasian cultural and economic space nearly two decades after the collapse of the USSR. Moscow remains the air travel hub, the business hub, the communications hub and this trend doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Quotes of the Day
From my colleague Dr. Andrew Stigler, a professor of national security studies here at the Naval War College:
"If peace were manufactured in factories, there would be a lot more Senators in favor of it." (A timely quote given the leak from the Hill about the Congressional probe into members of the defense appropriations committee.)
"There is no such thing as a diplomatic-industrial complex." (Although given the first steps of private military companies to offer humanitarian and development services, might one develop in the future?) And Parag Khanna might have a different view about a future diplomatic-industrial complex (via Diplopundit)
"If peace were manufactured in factories, there would be a lot more Senators in favor of it." (A timely quote given the leak from the Hill about the Congressional probe into members of the defense appropriations committee.)
"There is no such thing as a diplomatic-industrial complex." (Although given the first steps of private military companies to offer humanitarian and development services, might one develop in the future?) And Parag Khanna might have a different view about a future diplomatic-industrial complex (via Diplopundit)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Focus on Central-east Europe Today ....
The Vice President reassures, but also wants central-east European states to move the relationship forward with the United States.
But is economics the real determining factor for the future of the region, and the roles of Russia and the West?
But is economics the real determining factor for the future of the region, and the roles of Russia and the West?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire
An interesting post by Edward Luttwak over at Foreign Policy, the Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire.
Several years back, I asked What Would the Byzantines Do?" in addressing contemporary foreign policy challenges. Glad to see the subject interests others. I haven't yet read Luttwak's book, but I certainly hope that Obolensky's and Ostrogorksy's contributions to the field are cited.
Several years back, I asked What Would the Byzantines Do?" in addressing contemporary foreign policy challenges. Glad to see the subject interests others. I haven't yet read Luttwak's book, but I certainly hope that Obolensky's and Ostrogorksy's contributions to the field are cited.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Don't Understand the Logic
Jeffrey Goldberg and Marty Peretz are both angry with the administration that cancelling missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic didn't win Russian support for greater pressure on Iran.
Why would it? We said missile defense wouldn't work, the technology wasn't there, the plan was a boondogle. We were pretty public about these comments. Why did we think they wouldn't be heard in Moscow? (Psst ... the new administration doesn't want to spend money on a system they don't think works). So why should any rational actor say, You stopped work on something you said wouldn't work, now we are supposed to give you something substantial in return? A working, deployed system is another thing--but that's not what we had in place. And no one should be surprised at the reaction.
Why would it? We said missile defense wouldn't work, the technology wasn't there, the plan was a boondogle. We were pretty public about these comments. Why did we think they wouldn't be heard in Moscow? (Psst ... the new administration doesn't want to spend money on a system they don't think works). So why should any rational actor say, You stopped work on something you said wouldn't work, now we are supposed to give you something substantial in return? A working, deployed system is another thing--but that's not what we had in place. And no one should be surprised at the reaction.
