I am not one of those who believes that we will see a much more persuasive U.S. foreign policy merely by having Barack Obama buddy up to other world leaders. Nation-states make their decisions primarily and overwhelmingly via a cold-eyed examination of their long term strategic interests, and irrespective of the President’s personal relationships with other world leaders, the countries those leaders lead will decide to ally–or not ally–with the United States on various issues by looking at factors that have nothing whatsoever to do with personal relationships with the President of the United States.
November 25, 2009 – 9:22 am
It was once thought unthinkable that a British defense secretary would issue this kind of talk. But the Obama Administration made it necessary, now didn’t it?
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
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Posted in Blogs, Chequer-Board
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Also tagged Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Bob Ainsworth, Britain, Dithering, Foreign Affairs, National Security, Obama Administration, Terrorism, War
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November 19, 2009 – 7:29 pm
Asian leaders prefer Bush trade policies to Obama trade policies.
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
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Posted in Blogs, Chequer-Board
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Also tagged Asia, Barack Obama, Economic Ignorance, economy, Foreign Affairs, free trade, Obama Administration, protectionism, Trade, Trade Policy
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November 18, 2009 – 5:20 pm
The Economist on the Reagan legacy in fighting the Cold War.
November 16, 2009 – 1:06 am
I think that this correspondence between Jake Tapper and an academic friend of his with expertise concerning Japan is the best take on the protocol concerning the President’s deep bow to Emperor Akihito:
November 14, 2009 – 1:16 pm
Really, this is ridiculous.
August 31, 2009 – 8:55 am
A New Ledger forum I was privileged to take part in.
August 21, 2009 – 12:13 am
Sigh. I expected better from people who (rightly) complained about the “Buy American” provisions in the stimulus package.
August 12, 2009 – 6:06 pm
Honestly, I do. It’s a dirty, disgusting habit.
At some point in time, it may be possible for the United States and Iran to deal with one another. But Roger Cohen–whose views on Iran, it is worth re-emphasizing, have radically changed–points out that now is not that time:
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
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Posted in Blogs, Chequer-Board
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Also tagged Ali Khamenei, Barack Obama, Democracy, Dictatorship, Elections, Foreign Affairs, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Neda, Obama Administration, Roger Cohen, Stolen Elections, Totalitarianism, Tyranny
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I have been (ruefully) joking recently that if only Iran were able to remind people of Farrah Fawcett or/and Michael Jackson, the protests in the country would get the attention in the news that they deserve. Of course, the relative lack of media coverage does not mean that there is a lack of newsworthy activity in Iran right now.
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
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Posted in Blogs, Chequer-Board
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Also tagged Ali Khamenei, Barack Obama, Democracy, Dictatorship, Elections, Foreign Affairs, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Neda, Obama Administration, Stolen Elections, Totalitarianism, Tyranny
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Is anyone really supposed to feel good after reading about the way in which the President and the Secretary of State sought to coordinate their language concerning the unrest in Iran?
