Author Archives: Jack

Dmirti Trenin on Snowden and U.S.-Russia Relations

Dmitri Trenin has posted some wise comments on the Carnegie Moscow Center Eurasia Outlook. I believe he has described some of the basic reasons for the current friction between the U.S. and Russia, friction that serves the interests of neither … Continue reading

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Iran: Time to Give Diplomacy a New Try

The recent effort in the House of Representatives to intensify sanctions on Iran is the wrong policy at the wrong time. American Congressmen should keep their attention on negotiating a budget that the president will sign and that will support … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics | 1 Comment

Snowden in Russia

So the Russian government has finally—and predictably—granted Edward Snowden “temporary asylum” for a year. Does that worry you? It shouldn’t—unless you are a Russian.

Posted in In the World, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Stay Out of Syria!

This is the title of an article by David Bromwich to appear in the June 20 issue of The New York Review of Books. It is the best summary I have seen of the reasons President Obama should resist pressure … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics | 2 Comments

U.S.-Russian Juvenilia

A student at the University of Virginia asked my opinion of the Magnitsky Act and the Russian counter actions. I gave a reply in the discussion of Reagan and Gorbachev but will repeat what I wrote and elaborate on it … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics | 17 Comments

Did We Really Win in Iraq?

The general opinion seems to be, “Yes. We removed a vicious dictator!” However, it is difficult to argue that removing that dictator, who was no threat to the United States, was worth the cost of lives and treasure when the … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE CLOSE

The polls and pundits assure us that the presidential election November 6 will be close. Some even speak of a virtual tie. They are probably right, and if they are, this raises serious questions about the rationality of large segments … Continue reading

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“Nine-Eleven” Eleven Years Out

All of us who were alive eleven years ago and more than two or three years old at the time will remember the shock, horror, and anger aroused by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics | 6 Comments

Romney: Wrong on Russia

When President Obama was overheard telling Russian president Dmitri Medvedev that he could be “more flexible” in negotiations on missile defense following the election, Governor Mitt Romney was quick to pounce, calling Russia America’s “Number one geopolitical foe.” The New … Continue reading

Posted in In the United States, In the World, Musings and Polemics | 5 Comments

The Russian Election: Watch Mikhail Prokhorov

Most observers assume that Vladimir Putin will win on the first ballot in Sunday’s election. That is as close to certain as anything in the future can be, but the interesting question will be whether extensive fraud will be required … Continue reading

Posted in In the World | 7 Comments