Category Archives: In the World
Demonstrations in Moscow
You will find an eyewitness description of the demonstrations in Moscow yesterday here. You will also find a very interesting discussion of the charges by Prime Minister Putin that the United States has been trying to create an “Orange Revolution” … Continue reading
Gorbachev’s Achievements
Oxford Professor Archie Brown, who has written several insightful studies of Gorbachev and, most recently, a much acclaimed The Rise and Fall of Communism, summarized in a recent posting what he considers Gorbachev’s twelve most significant achievements. He points out that the list is … Continue reading
Mikhail Gorbachev’s 80th Birthday
Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union, will turn 80 on March 2. It is remarkable to me that so many of his compatriots fail to recognize his contribution to some of the most momentous changes in world politics. … Continue reading
The Upside of Wikileaks
Today’s New York Times has an article that points up a positive aspect of Wikileaks… the opportunity for the public to appreciate the cogent analysis and creative writing of the U.S. Foreign Service. But perhaps the future impact of the … Continue reading
Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Sofia, Bulgaria, October 7, 2010 I was asked to speak on problems in the Caucasus at the New Political Forum organized by the Gorbachev Foundation in Sofia. Although I am by no means an expert on the Caucasus, I tried … Continue reading
Bomb Iran? Craziest Idea of the Century (So Far)
Booneville Those of us spending our August out in the boonies may have missed the blog frenzy emanating from Washington the past few weeks predicting that Israel is insisting on bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities to remove an “existential threat.” If … Continue reading
Russia: Meaning of “Reset”
Booneville, Tennessee A friend has called my attention to an article in the August 12 issue of the Washington Times. The article strikes me as more propaganda than analysis. I’ll explain why as I quote the article, which follows:
Georgia, Two Years after the War with Russia
An article by Ahto Lobjakas of the RFE/RL research unit shows how far Georgian policy is from the sort of concessions that Dmitri Trenin recommended. (See previous post.) Instead of engaging with the populations of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as … Continue reading
Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia
In a recent article in the Moscow Times, Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Center in Moscow, offered some wise advice which could solve the “frozen conflicts” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Renewable Energy: Portugal’s Achievement
Don’t miss the article today in the New York Times on the rapid increase in the proportion of renewable energy in Portugal’s economy.