Brian Cloughley

In a scene reminiscent of the movie The Godfather the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told the world on December 20 that the US would be "taking names" of countries that voted in the UN to reject Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel. It’s all part of the pattern of … Continue reading “Taking Names for Israel”

The latest news about Afghanistan varies from the profoundly dismal to the fatuously absurd. One depressing story is the UN Office of Drugs and Crime report of November 15 that opium production for manufacture of heroin jumped to 9,000 metric tons so far in 2017, up 87 percent from 4,800 metric tons last year.  It … Continue reading “Losing the War in the Colony of Afghanistan”

The Financial Times commented on August 10 that in reaction to the chaos in Ukraine, “Western policy has become a mere knee-jerk escalation of sanctions”, and for once the FT has got it right about foreign affairs. The US and its disciples in Europe and Australia have imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference … Continue reading “Sanctions Rebound To Hit Europeans”

There has been an increase in violence in Afghanistan, and some foreign commentators have blamed Pakistan for supporting those responsible. It has been said that Afghan insurgents receive sanctuary in Pakistan, which is true, and that this state of affairs can be rectified by more effective policing of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which is nonsense. It … Continue reading “Hands Off Pakistan”