The Agonist - USA: Foreign Relations

US 'strikes deal' with North Korea on terrorism listing

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:58:27 -0700

Oct 11

BBC - The Bush administration is to remove North Korea from its list of countries sponsoring terrorism, US officials say.

One official told Reuters news agency that Pyongyang had provided Washington with assurances on verifying its nuclear activities.

President George W Bush had therefore decided to remove North Korea from the blacklist of states, the official said.

The US listing has been a major factor in the deadlock over North Korea's nuclear disarmament.

An administration official also told the AFP news agency: "We've agreed to a series of verification measures [on North Korea's nuclear programme], and flowing from that we can now remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terror."

Another report, quoting an unnamed US official, said that the removal would only be provisional and Pyongyang would return to the blacklist if it fails to comply with inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Young Americans Abroad

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:34:20 -0700

I have to say that as a general rule I am usually very impressed by the young Americans I meet abroad in places like China, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and many of the distressed nations I've visited in the last fifteen years. However, I am never impressed by young Americans I meet in Europe, or any of the young Americans I met in Singapore. One thing above all describes them: entitlement complex. When I meet young Americans in advanced countries they think they know it all, but have never seen poverty like that of India or Ethiopia. And they have literally zero sense of humility, especially the young backpackers in Europe. Absolutely the worst. It's an entitlement complex gone mad.

That's why I read this post with interest. Our young Americans are going to be up against the best and brightest from nations that are hungry--in the sense of achievement. And our by far and away most of our young Americans know nothing of the world, contra to what Alex wrote a few weeks ago. This is very, very troubling.

And I don't know what the remedy is. At a time when our nation is gripped by xenophobia and our finest universities have to plead and beg Homeland Security to get world class students over here I think it spells serious trouble for the US in the future. After all, that's always been our great secret and virtue, taking the best of what the world has to offer and seducing them with the American dream. But what so seductive about it these days when they can get it 24/7 on the net, on TV and elsewhere? Why leave your home country, family and support system when you can do it right where you are?

Dmitry Medvedev: Twenty years on, America must abandon its Cold War mentality

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:04:18 -0700

Dmitry Medvedev | Oct 9

The Independent - Seven years ago, because of the USA's determination to enforce its global dominance, an historic chance was missed – the chance to take ideology out of international politics and build a truly democratic world order.

After September 11 2001, Russia – like many other states – instantly, without a second thought, stretched out a hand of friendship. And we did that not only to rebuff terrorism but also for the sake of overcoming the division in the world after the Cold War. Yet, after the overthrow of the Taliban, there began a series of unilateral actions co-ordinated neither with the UN nor even with a number of the US's partners. It is enough to recall the decisions to abandon the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty or to invade Iraq.

Military bases are being set up all along the perimeter of our country. A third site for a global anti-missile shield is being created in the Czech Republic and Poland. Why, when taking these decisions, was it not possible at least to have a preliminary consultation with one's allies?

When decisions are taken in this way, without internal European consultations, one gets the feeling that tomorrow decisions could be taken to go further. Given the way that such decisions are currently taken in a unilateral way, there can be no guarantees about this – at least not for Russia. The Warsaw Pact has not existed for almost 20 years, yet Nato enlargement is pursued with special zeal. There are discussions now about admitting Georgia and Ukraine. No matter what is said, we regard such actions as directed against us.

Latin leftists gloating over 'Comrade' Bush's bailout

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:52:13 -0700

Tyler Bridges | Caracas | Oct 8

McClatchy - They don't call him President Bush in Venezuela anymore.

Now he's known as "Comrade."

With the Bush administration's Treasury Department resorting to government bailout after government bailout to keep the U.S. economy afloat, leftist governments and their political allies in Latin America are having a field day, gloating one day and taunting Bush the next for adopting the types of interventionist government policies that he's long condemned.

"We were just talking about that this morning on the floor," said Congressman Edwin Castro, who heads the leftist Sandinista congressional bloc in Nicaragua. "We think the Bush administration should follow the same policies that they and the International Monetary Fund have always told us to follow when we have economic problems — a structural adjustment that requires cutting government spending and reducing the role of government.

"One of our economists was telling us that Bush has just implemented communism for the rich," Castro said.

Bush signs US-India nuclear bill

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:45:46 -0700

Oct 8

BBC - US President George W Bush has signed into law a nuclear deal with India, which ends a three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with Delhi.

The landmark agreement was approved by the US Congress nearly a week ago.

The deal will give India access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for inspections of its civilian, but not military, nuclear facilities.

India says the accord is vital to meet its rising energy needs. Critics say it creates a dangerous precedent.

They say it effectively allows India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must.

Pentagon:When all else fails try bribery

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:51:14 -0700

Kristin Roberts | Ohrid, Macedonia | Oct 8

Reuters - Pentagon looks outside NATO for Afghanistan troops

The United States called on southeastern Europe on Wednesday, including aspiring NATO members, to send more troops to fight the insurgency in Afghanistan.

As the conflict with Taliban fighters has escalated, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has increasingly looked for troop contributions from outside NATO.

"As the situation on the ground in Iraq continues to improve, I urge you to consider sending your military forces to Afghanistan," Gates told a meeting of the Southeastern Europe Defense Ministerial, a group of 12 countries that includes Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, Romania and Macedonia.

"Your assistance will not only help Afghanistan better protect and care for its citizens, it will also reinforce your important role in ensuring peace and stability around the world," he said.

China has cancelled military and diplomatic exchanges with the US

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:14:18 -0700

Oct 7

BBC - China has cancelled military and diplomatic exchanges with the US in protest at a $6.5bn deal to supply Taiwan with arms, US officials say.

A number of senior level visits and military-to-military exchanges due before November would not go ahead, the US defence department said.

The sales include advanced interceptor missiles, Apache helicopters and submarine-launched missiles.

China regards Taiwan as its territory and opposes US military support.

Pentagon spokesman Maj Stewart Upton said: "China's continued politicisation of our military relationship results in missed opportunities."

The Chinese move affects a visit by a senior Chinese general, navy port calls and meetings on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Glitch Delays Signing Of India Nuclear Pact

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:30:34 -0700

Rama Lakshmi | New Delhi | Oct 5

WaPo - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with top Indian officials Saturday but was unable to sign a historic nuclear trade agreement between the two countries because of what appeared to be a bureaucratic hurdle.

Indian officials insisted that they will sign the deal only after President Bush does so in Washington.

The controversial pact, which seeks to end India's 34-year-old nuclear isolation, was approved by the U.S. House and Senate last week. Rice said that Bush would sign it "very soon" but that "there are administrative delays that need to be worked through."

US to sell $6bn in arms to Taiwan

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:52:54 -0700

October 3

BBC - The US government has notified Congress of plans to supply Taiwan with arms worth more than $6bn (£3.4bn).

The sales include advanced interceptor missiles, Apache helicopters and submarine-launched missiles.

Correspondents say the decision is likely to anger China, which regards Taiwan as its territory and opposes US military support of the island.

The move could also complicate efforts to get North Korea, an ally of Beijing, to end its nuclear programme.

The US Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) said the sales would "help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance and economic progress in the region".

US cuts funding for condoms in Marie Stopes' African clinics

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:29:53 -0700

Sarah Boseley | Oct 4

The Guardian - The US government is cutting its funding for the supply of contraceptives to family planning clinics run by Marie Stopes International in Africa, alleging that it condones forced abortions in China.

MSI has categorically denied that it supports forced abortions or coercive sterilisation in China or anywhere else in the world, and says that the actions of the Bush government will result in more abortions in Africa, as women will be unable to get contraceptives and will end up with unwanted pregnancies.

One of George Bush's first acts after becoming president was to stop all US funds to foreign organisations that helped women in any way to get an abortion, including providing advice. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) lost $34m that Congress had appropriated for it in 2002.

According to MSI, the inevitable consequence will be more abortions. It estimates that it will lose $1.5m worth of supplies in the next year, resulting in 325,000 extra unwanted pregnancies in the six African countries and 65,000 abortions.

"At a time when governments have pledged to increase their commitment to improving the health of women, only the Bush administration could find logic in the idea that they can reduce abortion and promote choice for women in China by causing more abortion," said Hovig.

U.S. clears U.S.-based NGO to set up shop in Iran

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:14:28 -0700

JoAnne Allen | Washington | Oct 3

Reuters - The United States has granted permission for a U.S. non-govermental organization to open an office in Iran, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, but said Washington's Tehran policy remained unchanged.

In a rare move, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) granted a license to the Princeton, New Jersey-based American-Iranian Council (AIC) to operate in Iran.

A U.S. official said the decision to allow the NGO to go to Iran was "carefully reviewed" within the U.S. government.

"We want to encourage this kind of cultural exchange and mutual understanding" between the U.S. and Iranian people "while trying to isolate the regime," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity

Wolfowitz up to more mischief?

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:07:16 -0700

Jim Lobe | Oct 2

Asia Times - Former United States deputy defense secretary and World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz is embroiled in a geostrategic conflict of interests through his chairmanship of a US arms-control advisory panel as well as the US-Taiwan Business Council. At the heart of the matter is a pending US$11 billion arms package for Taiwan.

Israel seeks to purchase F-35 fighter jets

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:58:57 -0700

Ashraf Khalil | Jerusalem | Oct 2

LA Times - Israel wants to buy 25 fighter jets equipped with the latest military technology from the United States with an option to purchase an additional 50 in a deal worth more than $15 billion, officials said.

The sale of the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter, would be the first to a country outside of the U.S. and eight partner nations collaborating on the airplane, officials said. The other countries developing the plane are Britain, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey, Norway and Denmark.

The fighter jet is not yet in service and remains under development, with Lockheed Martin Corp. as the lead contractor. Plans call for the military to start flying the plane in 2010.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which is responsible for foreign sales of military hardware, supports the transaction.

"It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the agency said in a statement.

US urged to bolster missile, space defenses against China: paper

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:46:20 -0700

Oct 2

Raw Story - A draft report recommends that the United States build new missile, sea-based and space-based defenses to deal with China's growing nuclear and conventional forces, a newspaper said Tuesday.

The draft by a State Department advisory board said China aims to build forces that are not just capable of retaking Taiwan but also of projecting power beyond east Asia, The Washington Times reported.

China's "major objective is to counter US presence and US military capabilities in East Asia through the acquisition of offensive capacities in critical functional areas that systematically exploit US vulnerabilities," it quoted the report as saying.

China is developing capabilities for "asymmetric warfare," such as space and computer weapons, that could help it defeat stronger US armed forces, according to a copy of the draft the daily said it had obtained.

Africa Command is operational, but skepticism persists

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:02:43 -0700

Oct 1

AFP - The US military's Africa Command becomes fully operational on Wednesday, but it still faces skepticism about its intentions as it seeks to provide security assistance to African states.

US defense cooperation and military assistance programs that until now have been scattered among three different commands will be brought together under Africom.

Africom, in concert with international partners, "conducts sustained security engagement through military-to-military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment in support of US foreign policy," the command's website says.

They include efforts to develop crisis response forces, regional counter-terrorism programs in North Africa, anti-piracy and counter-drug training for regional coast guards, and programs to professionalize African militaries.

"US Africa Command is nothing more than a device to ensure that the US oil industry will have unfettered access to Africa's vast supplies of oil," said Mark Fancher of the US-based National Conference of Black Lawyers.

"If anyone in Africa interferes with US oil operations, we suspect that they will be given the terrorist label and then targeted for military attacks," he said.