Young Professionals in Foreign Policy - Political

Syrian-Iranian Ties Not Easily Shaken

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:52:06 -0700

Some analysts believe Syria would be willing to distance itself from Iran in favor of a peace treaty with Israel. Syria and Iran have a history of close cooperation and their strategic relationship cannot be easily compromised.

There is an assumption that Syria would distance itself from Iran in favor of a peace treaty with Israel and normalized relations with the United States. Syria’s strategic relationship with Iran began in 1979 and both countries sought friendship as a deterrent from a mutual Iraqi threat. Iraq rivaled Syria as the true inheritor of Ba’thism and Arabism. Ethnic, religious and territorial disputes between Iran and Iraq prompted the former to seek an alliance with Syria.

Israel Need Not Fear Turkey's Islamist Government

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:47:19 -0700

Analysts are concerned that recent Islamist trends in Ankara could threaten the long-standing amicable relations between Israel and Turkey. These fears were highlighted by legislation passed in Turkey on Feb. 9, which rescinded a law in the constitution banning the wearing of a traditional Islamic headscarf. However, in June Turkey's high court overturned this ruling, claiming it violated separation of religion and state. Turkey is governed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), whereby Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the prime minister and Abdullah Gul is the president. Erdogan and Gul share pro-Islamist beliefs that clash with the secular nature of the majority of Turkey's political and military establishment.

Georgian War Could Revitalize Chances for European Missile Defense Sites

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:25:09 -0700

The looming debate in Congress over building U.S. missiles defense sites in eastern Europe could be significantly altered in the wake of Russia’s war with neighboring Georgia.

The Bush administration is moving quickly to cement agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic in a rush to break ground on interceptor and radar sites in those two countries before leaving office. A senior State Department official met with Polish leaders Wednesday amid reports of a breakthrough in the negotiations.

But Democrats in Congress have stymied these efforts by using their legislative powers to postpone groundbreaking on the sites.

Palestinian Disunity has Chilling Effect on the Peace Process

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:32:25 -0700

Among the many conflicts in the Middle East — Syria's attempted destabilization of Lebanon, Iranian ambitions to build a nuclear program, and the war in Iraq — the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains the most emotionally charged issue. To this day, Muslims and Arabs continue to perceive Israel's very existence as illegitimate: an entity serving the interests of the imperialist and colonialist West. Since 1947, many nations have been born, and some members of the international community continue to hold Israel to a higher moral standard than any other country. Israel is expected to negotiate with the Palestinians to end the conflict and help establish a viable Palestinian state.

Syria's Assad Benefits by Keeping Conflict Alive

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:30:04 -0700

Israelis and Syrians are holding talks regarding a potential peace treaty. Is this a realistic objective for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or does he profit more by keeping the conflict alive? Syria is a police state ruled by a strongman who controls all aspects of society. Assad restricts freedom at home and supports terrorism abroad in the name of defending Syria against Zionism and imperialism, which he claims have been imposed on his country by the West in order to destroy Islam and humiliate the Arabs. Assad's regime survives by indoctrinating its citizens to hate a common enemy, Israel.

Georgian War Could Revitalize Chances for European Missile Defense Sites

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:47:26 -0700

The looming debate in Congress over building U.S. missiles defense sites in eastern Europe could be significantly altered in the wake of Russia’s war with neighboring Georgia.

The Bush administration is moving quickly to cement agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic in a rush to break ground on interceptor and radar sites in those two countries before leaving office. Democrats in Congress have stymied these efforts by using their legislative powers to postpone groundbreaking on the sites.

Gaz de France cancels Nabucco interest

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:04:43 -0700

French energy firm Gaz de France recently canceled its bid to become the seventh member of Nabucco pipeline consortium.

The French gas company’s involvement with the Nabucco pipeline was contentious. Turkish energy officials opposed Gaz de France’s involvement with the Nabucco pipeline because of the French National Assembly’s approval of a bill which made it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottomans during the First World War.

Despite resistance, however, France continued to show interest in participating as recently as last month. Details of the cancellation were not given, though Jean Sirelli of Gaz de France-Suez said that it would consider rejoining if the pipeline was extended to France.

My take on it is that it doesn't really matter. Nabucco has enough leadership; what it needs are the actual supplies. Dubbed 'a pipeline without gas,' the Nabucco pipeline project has floundered in the absence of a natural gas source. Azerbaijan, the onetime hope for the pipeline’s leadership, is no longer “feasible” as a supplier. In the absence of a single gas source, Nabucco leadership is deliberating a more multilateral approach for the pipeline, potentially supplying Europe an amalgamation of Middle Eastern, Northern African, and Eurasian gas. This would raise the multi-billion dollar price tag on Nabucco even higher, but at the very least save its face.

Free elections are best counter to Pakistani Islamists

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:51:02 -0700

From Mr James P. Rudolph. Sir, Your editorial "Emergency rule no answer in Pakistan" (August 11), in its sober analysis of a very grave geopolitical problem, rightly notes that irrespective of the west's overblown fears - particularly those harboured by the Bush administration - democracy is doubtless the best way to contain and ultimately defeat the insidious influence of Islamists in Pakistan. The fact of the matter, despite widespread and misleading perceptions to the contrary, is that the vast majority of Pakistanis do not support or share the retrograde Islamist vision for the country.

Campaign has taken this turn out of desperation

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:07:52 -0700

Campaign has taken this turn out of desperation Published: August 6 2008 03:00 | Last updated: August 6 2008 03:00 From Mr James P. Rudolph Sir, Your editorial "McCain campaign takes the low road" (August 4) was spot on in its claim that John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has decided to disseminate a series of dirty and dishonourable campaign advertisements. This is, alas, to be expected from a Republican party that has adopted the divide-and-conquer scare tactics of former presidential adviser Karl Rove and Dick Cheney, the vice-president. But coming from Senator McCain, who has supposedly spent his entire professional life cultivating a reputation for moderation and independence, this is indeed disappointing. Having said that, however, it is easy to see why the McCain campaign has started appealing to the lowest common denominator: desperation.

YPFP at Wilton Park, UK

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:24:55 -0700

WILTON PARK, UK—On our day-trip into London, we made a stop at the American embassy. A fairly heated discussion about Guantanamo Bay and torture completely dominated the hour we spent there. Guantanamo was raised simply as an example of an issue that must very carefully defended overseas; I believe our speaker merely referenced it in passing. The minute the issue was raised, my European and American colleagues took the opportunity to delve in more deeply. We hardly discussed anything else from that point.

Much of the critique I had already heard back in the States, even by some of our own policy makers and elected officials: violating the Geneva conventions, hypocritical, immoral, secretive, detrimental to the West’s efforts in the Middle East, and a bit disgraceful overall. One of the American students said “embarrassing.”

Ambassadors: Career Diplomats vs. Political Appointees

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:36:06 -0700

Here’s a good article by Barbara Bodine, former US Ambassador to Yemen and director of the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative at Princeton University. She argues that the next president should stop the practice of filling over 30% of ambassadorships with presidential appointees, those loyal to the party or to campaigns. The positions should instead be filled by career diplomats. I think her article makes some good points but I would also add a few things:

YPFP at Wilton Park, UK

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:40:12 -0700

WILTON PARK, UK—My introduction to London was four hours spent in the Gatwick airport, with a splitting headache, no Starbucks in sight (I was in the wrong terminal for that), and in a pair of shoes that I’ll never wear to travel again. It was 3 AM on my body’s clock, so I sipped on a sub-par latte, wishing desperately I had a British accent and all the sophistication it implies, and prepared myself for the week ahead by browsing the latest Economist. I had intended to read it on the plane, as well as a whole stack of intellectual material, but the screaming infant in front of me had other plans for our seven hours together.

China Cracks the Door

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:02:05 -0700

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On August 8, China will fling open its doors to the world’s finest athletes and welcome, for the first time, a global Olympic audience. Yet, while the world’s attention is distracted by the glint of gold medals in Beijing, Chinese officials are doing whatever it takes to ensure that only the high polish of the Olympic spectacle makes it out through tightly controlled (i.e. censored) television, print, and online media.

In light of the recent protests in Tibet, a catastrophic earthquake in Sichuan Province, bus bombings in Kunming and Shanghai, and terrorist attacks in Xinjiang Province, Chinese officials are determined to build a façade of control—and cohesive national pride—lest unsightly and embarrassing political demonstrations be broadcast around the world. From banning select foreign entertainers to jailing Beijing dissidents, liberties are systematically being curtailed in what was once hoped to be China’s great coming out party.

Looking for fallout from the U.S.-India nuclear deal

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:48:11 -0700

Two weeks ago, the Indian government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh narrowly won a confidence vote in parliament. The political crisis had been precipitated by the government’s decision to pursue a civilian nuclear agreement with the United States, initially announced in 2005. The deal calls for India to separate its military and civilian nuclear programs, with the latter becoming subject to international regulations and eligible for assistance from the international community, led by the United States. The nuclear agreement has direct implications for India, for the U.S.-India relationship and for the global nuclear order.

Stephens Confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:40:34 -0700

The Senate on Friday confirmed Kathleen Stephens to serve as U.S. ambassador to South Korea, setting her up to replace outgoing Ambassador Alexander Vershbow in September.

The confirmation by voice vote came moments before the Senate left for its five-week summer recess and just days before President Bush is set to visit South Korea as the first leg of his tour of Asia. Sen. Sam Brownback , R-Kan., removed his hold on Stephens late Thursday, paving the way for the full Senate to act on the stalled nomination.