Monday, August 31, 2020

Election interference, Russia in Syria, China vs. Czechs

 Russian election interference targets city chaos. The exigent Russian interest rests in maximizing social divisions.

Americans in Syria will die if Trump doesn’t warn off Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader is escalating his confrontation strategy.

 

Why China is furious with the Czech Republic. Beijing believes that a visit to Taiwan from the Czech parliamentary speaker is a portent of things to come.




Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Nukes, Navalny

On nuclear weapons, Vladimir Putin will prefer Joe Biden to Donald Trump. The Democratic Party nominee opposes reforms to strengthen America's deterrent posture.

Trump must raise Alexey Navalny poisoning with Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader does not respect deference


Friday, August 21, 2020

Navalny conspiracy, Iraq meeting, Biden Saudis

 Russia tries to cover up Navalny poisoning. The response by the FSB and the doctors at the Omosk hospital indicates a conspiracy.

Trump’s successful meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The new leader is a nationalist rather than an Iranian puppet.

 

Joe Biden must address Saudi nuclear proliferation. The prospective president cannot claim that returning to the Iran deal is a simple and secure choice.


 


Biden foreign policy

 Five national security issues Joe Biden didn't adequately address. The would-be president needs to deliver more clarity on issues of exigent national concern.


Thursday, August 20, 2020

Alexey Navalny, VoA, Iran missiles

 Why the Navalny poisoning reeks of Vladimir Putin. The Russian human rights activist was struck down by a serious illness on Thursday.

Michael Pack plays to China, Iran, and Russia with Voice of America firings. The Trump administration official should reconsider his stance.

 

Iran says new ‘Qassem Soleimani’ missile can reach Israel. The announcement underlines Iran’s continuing interest in nuclear weapons.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Nord Stream spies, Lukashenko Russia, China traitor

Norway disrupts Nord Stream II Russia spy meet. The arrest of an energy worker indicates Russia’s interest in seeing the pipeline completed.

Alexander Lukashenko asks Russia to assist him. The Belarusian leader wants to ensure that the popular protests do not unseat him.

China attacks "traitor" Cai Xia. The dissident professor has done nothing wrong.


Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Hezbollah tribunal, Putin Belarus, Egypt Turkey

Lebanese Hezbollah gets absurd acquittal in special tribunal case. The evidence against the group is significant, but the court is apparently blind.
The U.S. should threaten sanctions if Putin sends forces into Belarus. The Russian leader will hesitate before facing further economic penalties.
Will Egypt and Turkey go to war? The two nations are escalating against each other in Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.

Monday, August 17, 2020

Russia's hand in Syria firefight, Iran arms embargo

Russian games: what happened with the U.S.-Syria firefight on Monday. Putin is using Syrian regime forces to try to force the U.S. out of Syria.

In Iran, Europe makes a dangerous gamble on Biden. There’s much folly in the European+British decision to abstain on the Iran arms embargo vote.

Friday, August 14, 2020

A bloody and atomic victory, Britain on China, FBI Lebanon, RDR Online

75 years ago today, a bloody and atomic victory. The decision to bomb Nagasaki wasn’t just necessary, it wasn’t enough. History indicates why.

Britain wakes up to ‘hostile state’ China. The British government and parliament are finally getting real about Beijing.

How the FBI will help the Lebanese people. The bureau will bring professionalism and access to information to an investigation in much need of both.

Is Rockstar Games waging a cyber war on Red Dead Online? It certainly appears that something very odd is going on.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

UAE-Israel, France vs. Turkey

In UAE diplomatic deal, Benjamin Netanyahu prioritizes foreign policy over domestic politics. Netanyahu will aggravate the Israeli right. But he has good reasons for his action.
Deterring Turkey war on Greece, France plays ‘bad cop’ to Germany’s ‘good cop.’ Macron is showing Erdogan that his bullying will meet limitation.

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

B-2 China, Belarus

U.S. sends a B-2 Bomber message to China. The deployment to Diego Garcia reflects an effort to undermine China’s confidence in its air defense strongholds.

The US and EU should reintroduce sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko. Stealing the Belarusian election, the president-dictator demands rebuke.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Kamala Harris and Biden foreign policy

Kamala Harris pick gives Biden foreign policy flexibility. The Senator from California is not a major foreign policy voice in the Democratic Party.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Belarus crackdown, Jimmy Lai, Greece vs. Turkey, Michel Aoun

Belarus crackdown meets Trump administration’s deafening silence. The U.S. should not be an idle witness to Lukashenko’s grievous theft of an election.

Jimmy Lai detention proves China’s two systems lie. Beijing finds independent thought to be an intolerable offense.

Greece deploys navy against Turkish incursion. Erdogan is trying to steal Greek waters for himself.

Meet Michel Aoun, Hezbollah’s puppet president in Lebanon. The geriatric president is highly unlikely to pursue necessary reforms.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Belarus election, Lebanon protests, China warnings, Turkey Mediterranean

In Belarus, a bloody election farce. Lukashenko has stolen the election and is using troops to smash protesters out of his way.

Will Lebanon suffer a political explosion? There is good reason to think so. Beirut protesters are demanding real change. Unfortunately, the politicians don't seem to have any interest in reform.

Why China is warning Trump of war. Beijing wants to establish deterrence against a president who seems unrestrained.

Turkey threatens Greece and Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea. Erdogan wants to steal resources and play to ultranationalist sentiments.

Friday, August 7, 2020

New C, Canada tariffs, MBS assassinations

Meet Britain’s new “C” - the chief of the Secret Intelligence Service. Richard Moore is a career officer who has something in common with CIA director Gina Haspel.

Canada stands with Trump on China, and is rewarded with new tariffs. The Trump administration needs to show better loyalty to this important ally.

Summon the Saudi ambassador over Canada assassination allegations. If Mohammed bin Salman is trying to kill political opponents in the west, the U.S. must constrain him.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

France-Lebanon, Korea military

France deserves U.S. support in Lebanon political reform effort. If Macron is being serious, here, the U.S. has an interest in his success.

Trump should recommence South Korea military exercises. This is about ensuring readiness to fight and win, not keeping Kim Jong Un happy.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

India Turkey, Azar Taiwan

In India and Turkey, leaders build monuments to exclusionary democracy. Via new monuments, Modi and Erdogan put their religious bases above all others.
Why Alex Azar’s Taiwan trip has sparked Beijing’s particular fury. The Health and Human Services director isn’t just a cabinet official traveling where China doesn’t like such travel, he’s talking about Covid-19.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Beirut, Philippines, Review

Beirut explosions: what we know so far. The massive blast which rippled through the city on Tuesday appears to have come from explosive materials.

At China’s behest, Rodridgo Duterte turns his Navy into a beach patrol. The Philippines president is a loyal servant to Xi.

Review: The Madman Theory. Jim Sciutto examines Trump’s foreign policy philosophy.

Monday, August 3, 2020

Mexico cartels, China HSBC, Germany Beijing

How the Mexican cartels must laugh at their president. AMLO is leading his nation into a black hole of violence, corruption, and narco-state terror.
Beijing’s message to HSBC: only absolute loyalty will suffice. The Chinese Communist regime has little interest in HSBC’s political balancing act.
German minister: Europe must reassess China relationship. Angela Merkel’s Europe minister offers a long overdue dose of reality.