by M. K. Bhadrakumar,* India
(16 February 2024) The diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government in Afghanistan on January 31, 2024 by China must be bracketed with two other far-reaching regional policy moves by Beijing in the post-cold war era – the Shanghai Five in 1996 – later renamed as Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001– and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) announced by President Xi Jinping in 2013.
by Jeffrey D. Sachs,* USA
(9 February 2024) It is easy to be cynical about the international rule of law. No sooner had the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found1 that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against the Palestinian people than the U.S. State Department declared, “We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a ceasefire in its ruling…” Israeli leaders declared the case to be “outrageous” and “antisemitic”. Yet the risks for Israel of the ICJ ruling, and its follow-up in the next year or two, are profound. If Israel spurns the Genocide Convention, it imperils its place within the community of nations.
by “Moon of Alabama”*
(2 February 2024) (Ed.) In the USA, too, readers of leading media outlets are guided in their opinion-forming with selected information on foreign policy. The investigative platform “Moon of Alabama” takes the time to scrutinise a recent analysis by Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for the “New York Times”. Is it necessary to bomb in Yemen or maintain military bases in Syria or Iraq? It becomes clear that Baker's selective choice of information makes the US government's policy appear to have no alternative: “There is no alternative”.
by M. K. Bhadrakumar,* India
(11 January 2024) The visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Russia on December 24–29 presented an extraordinary spectacle reminiscent of the halcyon days of Indo-Soviet relations.
There was an unnameable ecstasy in Jaishankar’s words on Russian soil. He even took a walk on the Red Square in the middle of Russian winter. But the minister is anything but a sentimental diplomat, who can handle emotions not necessarily as encumbrance but turning them instead into great optics.
by Jonathan Cook,* Israel
(21 December 2023) How do politicians, diplomats, the media and even the human rights community keep us politically ignorant, docile and passive – a collective mindset that prevents us from challenging their power as well as the status quo they benefit from?
by Karin Leukefeld,* Germany/Syria
(14 December 2023) Benjamin Netanyahu needs three things from the USA: “Ammunition, ammunition, ammunition”. This is how the Israeli daily newspaper “Israel Hayoum” quoted statements made by the Israeli Prime Minister in a meeting with government representatives.