August, 2008
In the Caucasus, a fake cold war
It has been said that the only "lessons from history" are that there are none, that each generation forges its own fate anew. This might or might not be so, but if there is anything worse than ignoring history, it is to try imposing the wrong historical analogy on current events.
Is there life after Doha?
As the WTO reassembles and reconsiders its options, should countries in the developing world stay put and give up on efforts to otherwise move forward or should they try to make the most of a difficult situation?
Showcasing China at its best
The organisation of Beijing Olympics was flawless, the spectacle grand, the facilities were superb, and records tumbled in the pool and on the tracks reflecting the world-beating quality of the facilities.
Look Who's Talking
You have to admire their chutzpah, castigating Russia for attacking another country and emulating in the Caucasus NATO's behaviour in the Balkans. Who does Vladimir Putin think he is - George W Bush?
Is a 'deified' Barack Obama coasting to defeat?
Has the Obama election express stalled? His camp believes that jealous jabs at him may close the gap in public opinion polls in the short run.
Payback time for Russia
You have to admire the chutzpah of the neocons for their castigation of Russia for attacking another country and emulating, in the Caucasus, NATO's behavior in the Balkans. Who does Vladimir Putin think he is - U.S. President George W. Bush?
Election of Obama would signal serious change for U.S.
Most of the world prefers someone who represents a clear break from the Bush years
The dictator walks
Pervez Musharraf is gone -- let's hope the era of tolerating and coddling Pakistani dictators is over as well
Can Pakistan make fresh start?
In the end, for all his false bravado, the general walked. Validating Churchill's aphorism yet again, Washington finally did the right thing in casting him adrift, having first tried everything else.
The dragon in the archipelago
The current Olympics has been China's 'coming out party', as well as the launch, as it were, of what some observers say will be the 'Asian century'.
Getting a Non-Proliferation Payoff from India
When mainstream candidates for the U.S. presidency begin inserting calls for a world free of nuclear weapons into their stump speeches, you know nuclear disarmament is finally making it as a topic for polite company.
Iraq's dead should be counted
If truth is the first casualty of war, one of the ways in which this is true is in relation to the casualty statistics themselves.