Foreign Policy

Can the Democrats Lead in Africa?

Josh Ruxin | Posted 10.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Foreign Aid, Investment, Africa, Obama, Mccain, Democrats, Development, Republican Convention, Republicans, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Josh Ruxin

Several delegates I spoke with noted that the only aspect of Bush's foreign policy that they viewed positively was rooted in Africa.

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Haidar's Struggle

Stephen Zunes | Posted 10.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Western Sahara, Aminatou Haidar, Morocco, Polisario Front, Human Rights, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Stephen Zunes

Among the more than 700 people arrested after the Moroccan conquest of the Western Sahara was the 21-year-old Aminatou Haidar. For four years she was held without charge or trial, and kept in secret detention centers, where she and 17 other Sahrawi women underwent regular torture and abuse.

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Turning Disaster Into Opportunity

Gary Hart | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Global Economy, Economy, Harry Truman, Financial Crisis, 2008 Election, Republicans, Foreign Policy, Wall Stree Crisis, Politics News
Gary Hart

The Wall Street disaster is a metaphor for excess and greed, but also for a time gone by. The world of the new century requires not just a new Democratic administration, but one that is prepared to transform our nation.

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The Second Debate Revealed a Fatal Flaw in McCain's Candidacy

Mitchell Bard | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Mccain Deregulation, Iraq Surge, John McCain, Mccain My Friends, Mccain Greeted as Liberators, McCain Offshore Drilling, Presidential Debates, Mccain Vote With Republicans, 2008 Election, Iraq GAO Report Conclusions, Barack Obama, Mccain Tax Breaks, Afghanistan War, Foreign Policy, Iraq War, Bailout, Mccain Oil Pay for War, Wall Street Regulation, McCain Record, Environment, Rick Davis Fannie Mae, Joint Chiefs Chairman, Mccain Vote With Bush, Mccain Big Oil, Mccain Flip-Flop, Global Warming, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

It's easy to take a position in a campaign. But the promises are empty if the candidate has a record opposing those very positions.

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Palin Brings Laughter To The Masses

Liz Umlas and Rachel Eliana Berman | Posted 10.07.2008 | Home

Read More: Vice President, Wasilla, Experience, Library, Books, Joe Biden, Governor, Foreign Policy, Vice Presidential Debate, Political Cartoon, Expectations, Sarah Palin, Domestic Policy, Election 2008, Alaska, Palin Books, Home News
Liz Umlas and Rachel Eliana Berman

Liz Umlas has joined forces with her daughter Rachel to entertain OffTheBus readers with their political cartoons. Rachel supplies the artistic skills, and Liz brings the political ideas.

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On Anniversary Of Bombing Afghanistan, We Need A Surge In Diplomacy

Kelly Campbell | Posted 10.07.2008 | Home

Read More: Afghanistan War, John McCain, Afghanistan, Us Forces, Taliban, Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Campaign 2008, Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, September 11, Bush Administration, Civilian Casualties, Nato, Election 2008, Home News
Kelly Campbell

If we want to help build a stable and democratic Afghanistan, we should drastically revamp our humanitarian aid to assure that it goes to projects identified by Afghans as crucial and supports the local economy by employing local workers, not high-priced foreign contractors.

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So What to Do with Those Mujahedin Terrorists?

Trita Parsi | Posted 10.06.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iran, Mujahedin, Terrorism, Brainwashing, Cults, Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Iraq, Gitmo, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Trita Parsi

What is often forgotten in the discussions about the Mujahedin is that it is not only a terrorist organization, but also a cult that brainwashes its members.

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Palin's "Hill": Shining City is Forbidding Fortress

Mort Rosenblum | Posted 10.06.2008 | Politics

Read More: Russia, Germany, John McCain, U.S. Election Overseas, Pakistan, Sarah Palin, Foreign Policy, Foreign Relations, Politics News
Mort Rosenblum

Feelings about Palin -- and the man who chose her -- range mostly from fear to contempt. We Americans had better understand this.

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The Empty Campaign of John McCain

Jared Bernstein | Posted 10.05.2008 | Politics

Read More: Neoconservatives, John McCain, Wall Street Crisis, Foreign Policy, Sarah Palin, Politics News
Jared Bernstein

Why does McCain want to be president? Those who have followed him for years don't recognize his agenda, his tactics, his positions.

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Bush Moves to Plan B

Laura Carlsen | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Legacy, Bush, Foreign Policy, Latin America, George Bush, Economy, Plan A, Plan B, Bush Legacy, Politics News
Laura Carlsen

Plan B was the legacy plan, designed to lock in as many Bush policies as possible before losing the presidency to the Democrats.

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Nature Abhors a Vacuum but so do Wingnuts: The Bailout and our National Security

Lorelei Kelly | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Wall Street Crisis, Conservatives, National Security, Terrorism, Missile Defense, The White House Project, Congressional Oversight, Sarah Palin Vice President, Political Corruption, Alaska, Palin Biden Debate, Counterinsurgency, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Lorelei Kelly

Conservative lip service to ideas like free markets and a strong defense produced neither. These "values" were never actually turned into priorities for policy making.

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Madam (Vice) President

Hooman Majd | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Vp Debate, Biden Palin Debate, Vice Presidential Debate, Sarah Palin Iran, Sarah Palin Debate, Pakistan, Foreign Affairs, Vp Debate Reaction, Sarah Palin, Vice Presidential Debate Reaction, Iran, Iran Nuclear Program, Palin Pakistan, 2008 Election, Palin Foreign Policy, Iran Nuclear Weapons, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Hooman Majd

Ms. Palin's well-rehearsed statements about Iran and its fiery president betrayed a real and fundamental lack of knowledge, and the larger issue of what the future of U.S.-Iranian relations might, or should, look like.

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Palin, Biden: Middle East 101

Jamal Dajani | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, John McCain, Lebanon, Vice Presidential Debate, Afghanistan, Sarah Palin, Joe Biden, US Elections, Israel, Barack Obama, Middle East, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Jamal Dajani

When it came to the Middle East, both candidates forgot to bring their "Middle East 101" manuals to the podium with them.

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Why Style Matters on a Debate and International Stage

Adam Blickstein | Posted 10.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Joe Biden, Vice Presidential Debate, Foreign Policy, Sarah Palin, Politics News
Adam Blickstein

The majority of post debate fodder is always about style, character, and general personal approach. And while it might seem trite for pundits to criti...

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Wall Street Bailout Threatens World's Poor

Robert Naiman | Posted 10.02.2008 | Politics

Read More: Wall Street Bailout, Bush Administration, Bailout, United Nations, Economy, Foreign Policy, Peter DeFazio, Politics News
Robert Naiman

On Monday the House voted down the the Bush Administration's request that Congress authorize $700 billion for purchasing Wall Street's "toxic assets" ...

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Fresh Faces on the National Scene: My Sons for President

Joel Weinberger | Posted 10.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Foreign Relations, Biden, Politics, Qualifications for Office, Vice Presidential Debate, Satire, Mccain, Obama, Political Satire, Running for Office, Palin, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Joel Weinberger

I watched Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric and learned that living next to another country and/or being on a flight path to another country c...

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Palin Wins the VP Debate Just By Showing Up

Earl Ofari Hutchinson | Posted 10.01.2008 | Home

Read More: Domestic Issues, Vice Presidential Debate, Barack Obama, Vice Presidency, Sexism, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Gop, Democrats, John McCain, Foreign Policy, Home News
Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Vice presidential contender Sarah Palin can win the debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden just by showing up. This is not a flippant, pithy, or fa...

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Sorry, Sarah Palin, Sometimes Life Isn't Fair

Joanne Bamberger | Posted 10.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: John McCain, Vice Presidential Debate, Gwen Ifill, Punditmom, Foreign Policy, Sarah Palin, Politics News
Joanne Bamberger

I knew there was one thing I could not say. "Your honor, please don't ask me as many questions about this motion as the other lawyers, because I'm not as experienced in the law as they are."

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Uganda Does Not Deserve Seat On UN Security Council, It's Time To Pay Attention

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 10.01.2008 | Home

Read More: Resource Wars, Off the Bus, John McCain, Dan Rather, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Foreign Policy, United Nations, Ugand, Home News
Georgianne Nienaber

Our lack of attention to international issues could become the prelude to more tragedy around the world. In the next week or so, Uganda will be pulling out all stops to gain a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

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Sarah Palin's Outlook on the World: Iran and The Rapture

William E. Jackson Jr. | Posted 09.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Alaska, Mccain, Foreign Policy, Palin, The Rapture, Israel, Politics News
William E. Jackson Jr.

In what has become the most embarrassing evidence of Sen. McCain's unfitness to govern, his chosen running mate spouts gibberish on foreign policy issues that is broadcast around the world.

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Sarah Palin May Really Win the Debate: What Biden Must Do to Prevent It

Paul Abrams | Posted 09.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Press, Abortion, Gwen Ifill, Iraq, Joe Biden, Energy, Foreign Policy, Sarah Palin, Economy, Debate, Politics News
Paul Abrams

So long as Gwen Ifill does not say, "explain" when Palin spouts nonsense -- and it was only that question from Katie Couric that revealed her shallowness -- Palin wins.

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Obama's Ideas on Foreign Policy Lack Luster

Lionel Beehner | Posted 09.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Obama Iran, Obama Afghanistan, Foreign Affairs, Obama Caucasus, Obama National Security, Obama Foreign Policy, Obama Iraq, Politics News
Lionel Beehner

On foreign policy, Obama appears to have no new ideas. He is partially recycling his past eureka moments, while partially aping some of the Bush administration's recent successes.

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What I Learned in Grad School

Marcia DeSanctis | Posted 09.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Palin Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Sarah Palin, Foreign Policy, Politics News
Marcia DeSanctis

It's hard to believe that Governor Sarah Palin is doing in a few weeks what it took me a year to cover. International affairs are non-linear, complex, and never black and white.

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McCain Advocates Dividing Up Countries Into "Us" Vs. "Them"

Brian Ross | Posted 09.29.2008 | Home

Read More: Russia, George Bush, Election 08, Presidential Debate, Superpowers, United Nations, Yugoslavia, Democracy, Foreign Policy, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bush Administration, Barack Obama, League of Nations, John McCain, China, Home News
Brian Ross

McCain's call to bypass the United Nations and establish a club of democracies where two nuclear superpowers cannot be represented is naive and dangerous political thinking.

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First Presidential Debate Shortchanges The World

Susan Morgan and Jirair Ratevosian | Posted 09.29.2008 | Home

Read More: Darfur, HIV/AIDS, John McCain, Human Rights, Zimbabwe, Economic Crisis, Domestic Policy, Burma, Genocide, Commission on Presidential Debates, Global Poverty, Presidential Debates, Congo, Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Home News
Susan Morgan and Jirair Ratevosian

Sorry, world. Now that the United States has its own economic crisis, we're apparently too busy to discuss issues like genocide, global poverty, AIDS and the vast array of problems that affect the majority of the global community.

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