... revising its activities in the main foreign policy areas, taking into account global changes, including the consequences of the coronavirus. There is a current of thought among circles of policy analysts in Europe and among some European politicians that Europe’s strategy on Syria is due for revision. There is an understanding that a “political transition” contingent upon the removal of Bashar Assad from power is neither pragmatic nor realistic, and the current policy of economic pressure and diplomatic isolation has ...
... his rationale was that he was worried naming the Russians and taking a strong stance against them would harm John Kerry’s then-ongoing diplomatic efforts to win cooperation with the Russians on Syria, as all recent diplomatic talks with them on Syria had been a farce. The same officials noted that Obama “fear[ed]” additional cyberattacks by Putin, additional military harassment in the Black and Baltic seas, and further aggression in Eastern Europe.
Yes, incredulously, Obama imagined that turning a blind eye to Russian interference in domestic American elections would somehow invite Russian compromise on other fronts, frustrating some on his team. I am reminded of the scene in The Lord ...
... media outlets have missed and not to their credit.
By Brian E. Frydenborg (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter @bfry1981) Originally published November 4th, 2016, on LinkedIn Pulse
Photo illustration by Slate. Images by Pool/Getty Images, Brendan McDermid/Reuters, Sarah Rice/Getty Images
AMMAN — EXCLUSIVE research and analysis reveal a significantly deeper relationship than previously understood between current and former members of the Donald Trump presidential campaign with agents and allies of ...
... “Where is Paul Manafort?” The e-mail then included some options for answers to this question: A.) “Was seen chauffeuring Yanukovych around Moscow,” B.) “Was seen loading gold bullion on an Army Transport plane from a remote airstrip ... ... feels he shares with Putin, and Gen. Flynn is on record advocating closer U.S. ties with Russia, in particular on the issues of Syria and terrorism. August 8th update: interestingly, the Green Party's candidate for president for 2016, Dr. Jill Stein,...
... General of the Russian International Affairs Council, Andrey Kortunov, to discuss a realistic politcal roadmap for solving the Ukraine crisis (read
Part 1
). In the second part of the interview, they talked about the Russo-European Relations beyond Europe.
ALEXANDER GRAEF: What is the Russian position on Syria?
ANDREY KORTUNOV: There are three misconceptions about the Russian position towards Syria and the Middle East. Firstly that Russia wants to support and save Assad at any costs. This is wrong. Assad is not a close friend of President Putin. Russia’s ...
... homeland, Egypt, but his services proved redundant and he disappeared without a trace in the mist of Egyptian democracy. For the EU and Obama, see above. The 2013 winner – the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (“for a major ... ... problem”) – is symbolic as well. In fact, this prize was awarded to Vladimir Putin, who had suggested an elegant plan for Syria’s chemical disarmament, which at that time made it possible to avoid an armed intervention. The OPCW was just lucky ...
... and cause Europe to make regrettable moves either in the same vein as the U.S. did after 9/11 or that brings far-rightists much more power in one of the world’s oases of tolerance and multiculturalism. The risks this situation present to France, Europe, the Western World, Syria, Iraq, the Middle East in general, Syrian refugees, and world stability in general are significant and must be considered. This is a moment with great peril not just for the West but also the whole world; those watching our reaction not least will ...
... rather than to make relations healthier. A recent statement by former top European officials and diplomats (
Avoiding War in Europe: How to Reduce the Risk of a Military Encounter between Russia and NATO
) proposes urgently convening the Russia-NATO Council ... ... only deepen the ongoing crisis. And the document seems ever more significant against the backdrop of Russia’s campaign in Syria, where an international coalition with NATO participation also operates.
Of course, an incident involving Russian and NATO ...
... Russia, America, and the state of their relationship is the lack of measured and reasoned commentary. Make no mistake, though, the problems between Russia and America are serious and affect a whole host of major issues around the world from wars in Syria and Ukraine to global energy distribution, access, and prices, to space exploration and militarization, just to name a few.
Perhaps this is understandable, given the nature of the history of the most serious, dangerous rivalry the world has ever ...
... do the one thing that was sure to infuriate his enemies, undermine the diplomatic positions of his friends, and alienate all neutrals while he was gradually winning the war, and at a time when UN chemical inspectors were in Damascus? The sceptic observer ... ... inescapable. In May, Carla Del Ponte, leading member of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, asserted that there had been “strong, concrete suspicions” and evidence that Syrian rebels had used the nerve-gas ...