Friday, February 26, 2010
The Rise of China, European Security, Iran Revisited
In case you haven't already read it, I suggest reviewing the remarks of China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the Munich security conference (here is the transcript of the question and answer period that followed). Two interesting themes that I detected; one, a "concert" approach to solving global problems, rather than U.S. leadership; and two, what seems to be an embrace of the "World without the West" thesis.
Second, Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic's remarks at Johns Hopkins. I was struck by the similarity in his assessment about the importance of including Turkey and Russia in the European architecture (rather than as peripheral powers to Europe), and some similarities in what I heard Paul Saunders of the Nixon Center address when he spoke at the Naval War College on Thursday.
And this week's WPR column: No Magic Bullet on Iran
Second, Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic's remarks at Johns Hopkins. I was struck by the similarity in his assessment about the importance of including Turkey and Russia in the European architecture (rather than as peripheral powers to Europe), and some similarities in what I heard Paul Saunders of the Nixon Center address when he spoke at the Naval War College on Thursday.
And this week's WPR column: No Magic Bullet on Iran
Friday, February 19, 2010
This Week's Roundup ...
It has been a week with a focus on Ukraine and Iran for me. One revolution completes its cycle in Ukraine with Kyiv still balanced between Russia and the West, and another prospective revolution carries with it no guarantees that regime modification will meet Washington's security agenda.
For your comments:
Testing Our Iran Policy Assumptions . See also Judah Grunstein's report today on The IAEA's Iran Report.
Courting Kiev, and the meeting report of a luncheon discussion held at the Nixon Center this week on the aftermath of the Ukrainian elections and what it means for the Eurasian space, with comments from Paul Saunders, Dimitri K. Simes, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Erlan Idrissov, the ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States.
For your comments:
Testing Our Iran Policy Assumptions . See also Judah Grunstein's report today on The IAEA's Iran Report.
Courting Kiev, and the meeting report of a luncheon discussion held at the Nixon Center this week on the aftermath of the Ukrainian elections and what it means for the Eurasian space, with comments from Paul Saunders, Dimitri K. Simes, former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Erlan Idrissov, the ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States.
Friday, February 12, 2010
One and a Half Cheers for Bribery
My essay in World Politics Review about the use of bribery as a tool of statecraft. If it worked for the Byzantines, why not for us?
Monday, February 08, 2010
On Ukraine
Some of my immediate reaction to Sunday's elections. As you can read, I don't foresee major changes to the stalemate that currently exists in Ukraine. Thoughts and comments welcomed.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Partnership or Containment
That seems to be the two ends of the spectrum of the U.S. approach to China (and Russia too). Sooner or later, you have to craft an approach that will tilt toward one side or the other--one cannot simultaneously contain a partner. (The subject of this short essay in today's National Interest on the question of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.)
