2013-08-29 by Kenneth Maxwell The word "brickbat" was first used in England during the 16th century. It referred to a piece of broken brick thrown at others hoping to injure them. It also means blunt criticism. "Brics" is of more recent origin. It refers to the developing countries of Brazil, Russia,…
2013-08-27 By Richard Weitz Having discussed Russia’s policies towards Iran in an earlier contribution, I thought it instructive to analyze China’s policies towards Tehran to highlight the similarities and differences in their approach, which are often overlooked. I was fortunate in having been in Beijing earlier this month attending a…
2013-08-26 by Richard Weitz Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Baku is but the latest sign of Moscow’s sustained effort to secure greater influence in the vital South Caucasus region. Putin traveled to Azerbaijan for a “working visit” on August 13 that marked his first trip the country in 2006.…
2013-08-21 A former force commander of the joint African Union/United Nations mission in Darfur has warned that a rethink is needed on peacekeeping in Africa if it is to remain a workable objective. Nigerian General Martin Luther Agwai told a Washington workshop on enhancing peacekeeping operations in Africa the complex…
2013-08-04 by Robbin Laird In a follow up interview with Gordon Stephenson, the brother of the co-pilot of the B-17 remembered in the French ceremony at the end of June, I had a chance to talk about his brother, growing up to become a pilot and what it felt like…
By Richard Weitz The recent NATO-Russian spat over military exercises shows the imperative of upgrading European security mechanisms. At a July 24 NATO-Russia Council meeting, Rose Gottemoeller, the U.S. Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, complained about Moscow’s failure to provide advance notice of its recent large-scale military…
2013-07-31 by Richard Weitz The PRC-Russian relationship is the process of further development. Three recent measures of that development are the following: Their growing energy trade, Their collusion in helping NSA leaker Edward Snowden gain asylum, and their renewed arms sales. In another sign of a deepening relationship, they recently…
2013-07-29 By Kenneth Maxwell It is curious how bad news multiples while good news diminishes. I suppose the international press had a new royal baby in Britain to swoon over this past week, and London is closer to home for most of them than Rio de Janeiro. But good news…
