Group items tagged

"Does the United States pay a disproportionate amount of the United Nations' budget?"

United States: Aggregate Freedom Score: 86/100

A great resource from one of the most respected foreign policy journals in the United States about the current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and how they may affect the world, not just the United States. It is updated very often, and could act almost as a periodical of sorts, like TIME or Newsweek, but more focused.

"A total of 184 countries on Wednesday voted in favour of a resolution to demand the end of the US economic blockade on Cuba, for the 29th year in a row, with the United States and Israel voting against"

(Wikipedia) "The United States embargo against Cuba prevents American businesses, and businesses organized under US law or majority-owned by citizens of the United States, from conducting trade with Cuban interests. It is the most enduring trade embargo in modern history."

After a slight turn towards the better, the relationship between Venezuela and the United States has tensed up again. After one of Maduro's allies, Alex Saab, was extradited (handed over (a person accused or convicted of a crime) to the jurisdiction of the foreign state in which the crime was committed), Maduro called off all negotiations with the US that could have lead to rapprochement. This article then details some of the mistrust the US government has in Maduro.

The Republican National Convention took an uncharacteristic turn toward foreign policy on Wednesday night, as two prominent speakers lashed out at President Barack Obama's leadership in world affairs. "Unfortunately, for four years, we've drifted away from our proudest traditions of global leadership, traditions that are truly bipartisan," said Sen.

Very interesting. I like this quote from the article: "Rice oversaw U.S. foreign policy during a time when many citizens have come to feel the United States overextended itself abroad, entering into two wars that continued well into the Obama administration (and one, Afghanistan, that continues to this day). Perhaps in a nod to that legacy, Rice acknowledged that "there is a weariness -- I know that it feels as if we have carried these burdens long enough." But, she continued, "One of two things will happen if we don't lead: No one will lead and there will be chaos, or someone will fill the vacuum who does not share our values. My fellow Americans, we do not have a choice: We cannot be reluctant to lead, and you cannot lead from behind." For us to discuss: what IS the United States' foreign policy role today? How might it be changing?

"Earlier in the day, Rice had offered some specific criticisms of Obama's handling of the uprising in Syria, accusing the president of waffling and "muting" America's voice."

population Africa Europe

If we cut back on funding the UN, we will also lose our power there making room for other nations to take our role: "Finally, to the extent the United States cedes influence at the United Nations, other nations then have an opportunity to up their roles. This means rising powers, most prominently China, can step up as U.S. soft power declines."

This article explains government approval and unity throughout the COVID19 pandemic. It acknowledges the large shift in disapproval towards the United States government, as well as the Trump administration in relation to their response to the pandemic.

I find it interesting but not surprising that American citizen's opinions on how the their government has handled the corona virus is split down the political aisle. This split reflects the 82% of surveyed Americans that say the country is less united due to the pandemic. The study discussed in this interview also found that UK and Spanish citizen's answers were split by political party as well, and that those who supported the current government in their country generally thought that COVID-19 is being handled well. I also think it's noticeable that the country with the highest percent of observed unity during the pandemic is a country with universal health care, Denmark.

Further development in the relationship between the US and Russia in Syria. John Kerry will meet with Russia's Sergey Lavrov in Lausanne, Switzerland on Saturday along with foreign ministers from a few other countries that support the rebels and possibly Iran (which supports Assad). PS: This article is way more interesting than my first one so I recommend this one more unless you're in the mood to question humanity and be sad.

I read this article and Aleisha's article about the Syrian civil war, and I was surprised at how complicated the conflict is. I also was not aware of the growing tension between the United States and Russia, so it was interesting reading about the power dynamic happening again. The CNN article, published just one day before the NYT article, portrays US involvement very differently, so I'm interested to see how that develops.

With all of the negative and worried talk about the future of Libya, it is interesting to hear the potential positives that may come about after this revolution.

Although Libya looks like it is moving in the right direction because of the scarcity of corruption, the united states and other countries should still keep a watchful eye to ensure Libya doesn't become another Afganistan. However, Libya also shows how support of Islam and support of the United States is not contradictory, which could make the United States less hated.

The visual accompanying this article was very useful! I found it helpful to compare the American political parties to European political parties. I always knew that American politics were very right-leaning, but I had no idea of the extent.

Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman, is accused in the U.S. of siphoning millions from programs intended to help the needy in Venezuela.

Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart reach an agreement between Russia and the US intended to reduce conflict in Syria, however agreement is plagued with mistrust and loopholes.

This article poses the important question of how the Muslim world would react to a strike on Iran, either from Israel or the United States. The article points out that given the recent hostility towards the West from the Innocence of Muslims film, most violence would be directed to the US. It is important to consider the way that Muslims outside of Iran would react to a strike on the nation.

I find the idea that should a physical threat be made against Iran that other Muslim occupied countries would unite to be quite accurate and terrifying. As alluded to in the Clash of Civilizations, I believe there to be a great possibility of an impending war based on religious beliefs. The Islamic community was already infuriated, especially with the U.S., by the Mohammed film. Any further attack (whether theoretical or physical) by the United States or by its allies could result in a quite dangerous situation.