In The News

US-Japanese Defense Pact: Japan Times

Tomohiro Osaki June 25, 2019
US President Donald Trump relies on equivocation and impulsivity during negotiations and staff planning – to mask his intentions, seek leverage, and keep adversaries and allies on edge. A report suggested that Trump suggested terminating the 1951 defense pact with Japan, calling it “one-sided.” Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, pointed out that Trump issued a denial and the two countries...

Facebook’s Libra: Project Syndicate

Katharina Pistor June 24, 2019
Corporations are increasingly eager to resume control over traditional government responsibilities. The latest example: Facebook released a white paper on plans to develop a borderless cryptocurrency system with a group of central banks, regulators and 27 partner companies. Facebook along with Uber, Lyft, Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, eBay, and other firms – but not commercial banks – are...

US Isolated in Iran Crisis: The Hill

Lawrence J. Haas June 24, 2019
Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, the two countries jockey for international support. The United States withdrew from an international agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear weapons development and re-imposed sanctions despite Iranian compliance. The United States has since accused Iran of sabotaging oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, dispatching more troops and military...

Political Prisoners in Turkey: Al-Monitor

Diego Cupolo June 21, 2019
Since a 2016 coup attempt, the Erdogan regime in Turkey has been sensitive about any opposition, viewing valid criticism as a challenge to its policies and control. “Sixteen people are facing life imprisonment without parole for allegedly organizing and financing the 2013 Istanbul Gezi Park protests,” reports Diego Cupolo for Al-Monitor. “A 657-page indictment issued on Feb. 20 charged the...

Ebola Crisis: Council on Foreign Relations

Claire Felter June 20, 2019
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo officially started in August of 2018, in the northeastern regions of the country bordering Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan. Claiming more than 1,300 deaths, with cases doubling in the past three months, the Ebola crisis is escalating but remains second place to the 2014-2016 outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people. The World Health...

Putin Muscles His Way Into Africa: CNBC

Frederick Kempe June 19, 2019
The Central African Republic is a recent example of how Russian President Vladimir Putin is investing human resources and muscle for access to natural resources and trade deals in Africa. Africa is poised to represent 25 percent of the world’s labor force by 2050 with its 54 countries having the potential to be an influential voting bloc in the United Nations. The continent has an abundance of...

Taking on Tehran: Project Syndicate

Richard N. Haass June 18, 2019
Iran has been public enemy number one for the Trump administration, with the United States withdrawing from the nuclear deal brokered by former President Barack Obama and imposing harsh sanctions. Iran’s oil exports and the economy as a whole is experiencing a harsh slowdown. Other nations abide by US policy, but the Iranian regime may outlast the US pressure due to its inimitable institutional...