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Jiang is putting the pieces into place to solidify not only his legacy, but the ideas of Old Deng and the position of his protégé, Hu Jintao. The 10th National People’s Congress this month was a showcase for the New Generation of leaders and Jiang’s Three Represents Theory. Lawyers and accountants sit in the Chinese … Continue reading “Soft Power Moves Abroad”

Just a day before United States President George W. Bush delivered a fresh diatribe against Iraq in his State of the Union address, India’s Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee did something unexpected. He appealed to the Great Powers to show "great restraint" and "patience" in dealing with Iraq and make "all efforts" to avoid a … Continue reading “India, Pakistan in Diplomatic Maze Over Iraq”

In the midst of a furious debate over the key role of pro-Israel ideologues in pushing us into war, the FBI has announced it is looking into the possibility that “a foreign government is using a deception campaign to foster support for military action against Iraq.” Remember the forged “evidence” the U.S. submitted to the … Continue reading “What’s It All About, Ari?”

They’re already awarding contracts for the "reconstruction" of Iraq. But who will reconstruct our old republic, once it morphs into an empire? As they test weapons of mass destruction in the midst of one of the most populated states in the union, flexing their muscles and bellowing belligerence, the War Party exudes confidence. The ideologues … Continue reading “Postwar Blues”

Even I was beginning to worry if I was going to be proven wrong: for the entire nine years that Tony Blair has been leader of the Labour party, I\’ve guaranteed everyone who\’d listen that \’Clare Short will do the dirty on Tony Blair\’, and nothing much happened. She lashed out a few times, in … Continue reading “The Limits of Conservatism”

"I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." – (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II) Two shots – one in the chest, one in the stomach – abruptly ended the reign of Zoran Djindjic at lunchtime Wednesday, as a yet unidentified sniper assassinated the Prime Minister of Serbia. Djindjic was killed at the … Continue reading “Death of a Manager”

War advocates are loudly complaining about the United Nations, which they allege stands in the way of a justified American attack on Iraq. Some say the U.S. should ignore the U.N. and act unilaterally. And yet, much of their case for war against Iraq hinges on Saddam Hussein’s violations of United Nation resolutions. So while … Continue reading “UN Loyalties Expose Hypocrisy for Hawks and Doves Alike”

When I visited Ramallah last, it wore a shining white frock. Even after days of sunshine, many areas were still covered with snow that hid the ravages of the occupation, destruction and neglect. I was driving slowly and enjoying the landscape, when I tensed instinctively. Through the corner of my eye I saw a group … Continue reading “Black Flags”

Once you are able to comprehend the geopolitical agenda of the beltway policy wonks for the Middle East, it should become transparent how incestuous the relationship between the neoconservative left and the liberal left really is. You should also be equipped to forecast exactly what is going to transpire in the Middle East. In fact, … Continue reading “The Neocon-Liberal Left’s Geopolitical Agenda”

As the appalling people who rule us back and fill and improvise on the winding road toward what now seems a virtually inevitable war, it seems almost fruitless to try any more to dissuade our warbent president. Perhaps the Russians or the French, for esoteric diplomatic or power-politics reasons, can delay the introduction of long-planned … Continue reading “Waiting on War”