Will Trump End Washington’s Proxy War in Ukraine?

Donald Trump’s election as president is fueling speculation that he will terminate U.S. financial and logistical support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia.  Trump himself has contributed to that speculation during his June 28, 2024 debate with President Biden when he said, “If we had a real president, a president that was respected by [Russian … Continue reading “Will Trump End Washington’s Proxy War in Ukraine?”

What’s Really Going On In the South China Sea Between the Philippines and China

Maritime clashes between the Philippines and China had been mostly over the Philippines’ military outpost, BRP (BRP – Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas, which translates to “Ship of the Republic of the Philippines” – the ship prefix for the Philippines) Sierra Madre, in the Spratly Islands, which is disputed by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, … Continue reading “What’s Really Going On In the South China Sea Between the Philippines and China”

The Man Who Can Help Trump Bring Peace to Korea

Columbia Professor of Genetics Joseph D. Terwilliger has an exceptional resume. Along with his post at an elite institution, he is an accomplished tuba player, speaks a multitude of languages, has traveled to nearly every country on Washington’s official enemies list, and served as translator for NBA legend Dennis Rodman when he traveled to North … Continue reading “The Man Who Can Help Trump Bring Peace to Korea”

A Veterans Day Tribute

This originally appeared on November 11, 2008. Every Veterans Day, I try to do something special to remember or honor a veteran. I don’t like the standard flag-waving event that this day has become for many people. In many Veterans Day speeches, the speakers talk about the hundreds of thousands of American veterans who gave … Continue reading “A Veterans Day Tribute”

Multipolarity and Its Potentials for Peace

For the past several decades, as the leader of a unipolar world, all diplomatic pathways to peace went through Washington. Any negotiated settlement had to be an American led negotiated settlement. But enforcing hegemony means not being impartial. It means rewarding one side with weapons and diplomatic support and coercing the other with sanctions and … Continue reading “Multipolarity and Its Potentials for Peace”

November 11 Was Originally Armistice Day, a Peace Holiday

November 11, declared Armistice Day at the end of World War I, is celebrated in the U.S. as Veterans Day. Understanding why requires us to recall World War I and its aftermath. World War I was an international conflict, 1914-18, that embroiled most of the nations of Europe, along with Russia, the United States, the … Continue reading “November 11 Was Originally Armistice Day, a Peace Holiday”

Criminalizing UNRWA: How Israel Is Delegitimizing the United Nations

On October 28, the Israeli Knesset passed a second reading of two bills that effectively ban the United Nations agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from carrying out “any activity” in Israel and occupied Palestine. Simply put, the decision is catastrophic, because UNRWA is the main international body responsible for the welfare of millions of Palestinians … Continue reading “Criminalizing UNRWA: How Israel Is Delegitimizing the United Nations”

Why Trump’s Election Could be the Best Thing for Zelensky

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, needs a way to lose the war with Russia. American voters may have just given it to him. In his victory speech early in the morning of November 6, President-Elect Donald Trump said, “I will govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept. We’re going to keep our promises.” He … Continue reading “Why Trump’s Election Could be the Best Thing for Zelensky”

Some of Our Leaders Are Putting Other Countries First

Some of our leaders seem to care more about other countries, e.g., Ukraine and Israel, than they do about our own. Once again, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has come to Washington, begging for even more money, this time some $8 billion dollars. The U.S. Congress has already approved $175 billion for Ukraine in the last … Continue reading “Some of Our Leaders Are Putting Other Countries First”