Foreign Policy
The world should see that North Korea is no laughing matter
I found myself snorting with derision last night while watching a news bulletin about the Korean situation. The sight of a Gummy Bear like Kim Jong Un vowing to obliterate… Continue reading
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What to do about Syria? Easter edition
This morning’s Times reports (£) of the arrest of a former US serviceman, Eric Harroun, suspected of assisting Jabat al-Nusra, a jihadist insurgent group in Syria. He has been charged… Continue reading
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No, the Syrian civil war is not "Obama's Rwanda"
Today’s Question To Which the Answer Is No is asked by Will Inboden over at Foreign Policy. To wit: Has Syria Become Obama’s Rwanda? There are many reasons why it… Continue reading
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David Cameron visits Algeria for talks on ‘generational struggle’
The Prime Minister is visiting Algeria today to pay his respects to the victims of the hostage crisis. He will also hold talks with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, and… Continue reading
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Mali is a British concern because it is a European concern
Aaron Ellis makes a good point: the comparison between Mali and Afghanistan is flawed. But I disagree with him as to why. Afghanistan was a failed state long before al-Qaeda… Continue reading
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Mali is not another Afghanistan
Why should we worry if jihadists control a poor, landlocked country thousands of miles away? As the French push on with the ‘reconquest’ of Mali, there’s a feeling here that… Continue reading
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If Barack Obama is an isolationist then isolationism no longer has any meaning - Spectator Blogs
Con Coughlin suggests Barack Obama has “given up” fighting al-Qaeda which, frankly, is a curious assessment given the ongoing drone war (and other operations) in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Roger Kimball,… Continue reading
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David Cameron redoubles his commitment to interventionism
David Cameron’s Commons statement on Algeria just now was the most interventionist speech he has made since the one he delivered at the Foreign Policy Centre during his 2005 leadership… Continue reading
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David Cameron: Terrorism in North Africa requires global response
In his latest statement on the Algerian hostage crisis this morning, the Prime Minister built on the interventionist language that James spotted in his Commons address on Friday. Cameron said:… Continue reading
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EU Shocker: The United States agrees with the British Government! - Spectator Blogs
Good grief. Are we supposed to be surprised that senior officials at the US State Department take the view that Britain should, all things considered, remain a member of the… Continue reading
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Abu Qatada and the problem of freedom-stomping friends - Spectator Blogs
And so, once again, the judges are in the dock for insisting that due process be followed even when, as in the case of Abu Qatada, it is inconvenient to… Continue reading
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Obama’s top foreign policy concerns for his second term
With Barack Obama being returned to the White House, it’s worth considering what his key foreign policy challenges will be during the second term. I’ve outlined a few areas I… Continue reading
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Barack Obama Deserves A Second Term - Spectator Blogs
No matter the result of today’s Presidential election, it will not be Morning in America tomorrow. Of course the successful candidate will talk of America’s essential greatness. He will promise… Continue reading
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The United Nations is not in Foggy Bottom. On balance, that’s a good thing.
For an Englishman, Nile Gardner is an unusually reliable mouthpiece for the more reactionary elements of reactionary American conservative foreign policy preferences. His latest epistle to the Daily Telegraph demonstrates… Continue reading
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George Galloway’s fifty shades of rape
The supporters of that exhibitionist monkey Julian Assange are becoming ever more bizarre. George Galloway MP, for example, has been sounding like a High Court judge in 1973: those women… Continue reading
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How William Hague changed the Foreign Office
There is a quiet revolution taking place at the Foreign Office under William Hague’s stewardship. This morning’s headlines focus on the announcement of ‘greatly increased’ support for Syrian rebels including… Continue reading
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A new Argy-bargy
Another article to mark the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War — this one from the current issue of the magazine. It’s by John Simpson and analyses the current tensions… Continue reading
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From the archives: Defending the Falklands
To mark the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands War, here’s Ferdinand Mount’s column from the time: The last armada, Ferdinand Mount, 10 April 1982 A debacle speaks… Continue reading
6 CommentsToday in Stupidity: Who Lost Syria?
Perhaps I should apologise to Leon Wieseltier? His recent column is not a patch on Jennifer Rubin’s latest screed which may be the most stupid and contemptible thing I’ve yet… Continue reading
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Afghanistan overshadows Cameron’s America trip
Afghanistan, what now? After a week of death and retaliation in the country, it appears that a car bomb has been detonated on the runway at Camp Bastion — probably… Continue reading
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