Americas

February 16, 2014

The NSA and Attorney-Client Privilege

The latest Snowden leak shows that the NSA, via it's partner in Australia, has violated attorney-client privilege of a U.S. law firm. Is the "Five Eyes" alliance being used to circumvent constitutional protections against U.S. surveillance agains...
December 12, 2012

Tropical Kremlinology

As I blogged the other day, Venezuela’s populist dynamo Hugo Chávez has left the country yet again for more cancer treatments in Cuba, possibly for the last time.  In his absence:  intricate clan wars among the ruling party, an aspiring oppo...
December 12, 2012

Tropical Kremlinology

As I blogged the other day, Venezuela’s populist dynamo Hugo Chávez has left the country yet again for more cancer treatments in Cuba, possibly for the last time.  In his absence:  intricate clan wars among the ruling party, an aspiring oppo...
November 16, 2012

How to Make Friends and Push a Russia Bill through Congress

My sincere congratulations to my friend, Bill Browder, on this historic achievement to memorialize the life of Sergei Magnitsky and other victims of injustice in Russia. Also my congratulations to the city of Washington DC, who now get to enjoy th...
January 17, 2012

Welcome to Moscow, Ambassador McFaul

The new U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has released a video introducing himself to the Russian people.  Interesting use of direct diplomacy.  
November 9, 2011

Strong Economy, Weak Democracy

On Fareed Zakaria’s blog on CNN, there is an interesting short post by political scientists Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith of NYU, taking an excerpt from their new book.  The argument is very basic, but suggests an interesting re...
November 9, 2011

Strong Economy, Weak Democracy

On Fareed Zakaria’s blog on CNN, there is an interesting short post by political scientists Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith of NYU, taking an excerpt from their new book.  The argument is very basic, but suggests an interesting re...
October 17, 2011

Will Russia Lose Business with the Next Venezuelan Government?

In case you haven’t been following the news, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has cancer.  After several surgeries and chemotherapy treatments in Cuba, Chavez has returned to a very tense political situation (even by Venezuelan standards), a...
October 17, 2011

Will Russia Lose Business with the Next Venezuelan Government?

In case you haven’t been following the news, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has cancer.  After several surgeries and chemotherapy treatments in Cuba, Chavez has returned to a very tense political situation (even by Venezuelan standards), a...
August 19, 2011

Video: U.S. Foreign Policy Crippled by Domestic Turmoil

We found these comments from Martin Indyk at Brookings Institution very interesting regarding the effectiveness and coherence of U.S. foreign policy amid an especially bitter and hard fought campaign season.  If the parties are willing to throw th...