Philip Stephens of Financial Times today pointed out how much global politics has changed since 2016. That was the year of Brexit and Trump, when those calling for national sovereignty and iron-bound borders seemed to have the upper hand, and it seemed we were entering a new era in which nations would hunker down and international cooperation was a thing of the past.
So refreshing to see the president of the US doing actual politics, after the seemingly endless years of Trump just screaming, bullying and continuously masturbating in front of cameras but amounting to nothing… Even if it isn’t all perfect, Biden is still doing a damn good job.
Thank you for this extremely readable breakdown of the tremendous work Biden and the administration is doing on multiple —myriad!— fronts. Is there any politician in the US who had/has the knowledge and skill to have done this, especially in the face of the chaos their predecessor had left the country in?
I believe the Biden Administration, more so than most of its predecessors, fully appreciates that we can only protect ourselves through and with others. Not their terms and not America’s terms but on common terms, the community of peoples, the community of nations. And those terms have to be negotiated.
So much very important work is being carried out around the world by this administration and yet the media fills it's collective space with repetitive chatter about trump. Reporting where he is, what he's doing, what he's saying, even video! Refreshing to read that there are coalitions forming to strengthen democracy and weaken dictatorships. Very sad that a vast number of our media outlets couldn't care less about protecting their viewers by informing them of the work that is being done on their behalf by this administration. Information needed to make decisions in our next elections coming in a little over a year. Thank you Heather for your thorough reporting of our foreign policy.
Thank you. Very informative. Hard to keep up with everything going on in the Middle East & Africa, with all the chaos we have here at home. I’m aware that in many ways, none of it is separate from the other. Everything is so interconnected & interdependent now. It’s the old “butterfly flapping it’s wings” story. Just so grateful we have you to keep us informed of the relevant information.
Before I was a Foreign Service Officer in Africa—Congo 1960-1966, I had made a documentary in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1954. (The rebellion in southern Sudan broke out in February 1955.)
I have subsequently followed Sudan from its early democratic independence to the sharp split between northern and southern Sudan. Recently independent South Sudan has been in disarray ever since.
In the north, military government, now challenged by a destructive rebel force, has shattered the country and uprooted millions of Sudanese. I do not envisage foreign diplomacy bringing stability in either of the Sudans in the foreseeable future.
Niger has recently experienced a military coup. I consider it highly unlikely that an African ‘military force’ can reverse this. French troops have been obliged to depart and 1,000 American troops (and three drone facilities, soon may do likewise.
These Sub Saharan countries are poor and have never been particularly stable since their independence over 70 years ago. Most are under military rule. Russia’s Wagner Group is significant in at least three of these. Alas, I do not envisage stability, much less democracy or economic improvement, in these Sahel countries in the foreseeable future.
“Several Republicans have opposed that [Iranian] deal. The senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, James E. Risch of Idaho, said that the ‘unfreezing’ of funds ‘incentivizes hostage taking & provides a windfall for regime aggression,’ and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) called the money ‘ransom’ and said it was a ‘craven act of appeasement’.”
One wonders if the esteemed senators had any comforting words for the families of the released prisoners.
I've never felt happy with NATO, particularly after the fall of the Soviet Union, when it seemed without an excuse for its existence. It went on a search for enemies, and arguably succeeded in turning the new Russia from a potential friend to what it is now. But a few years ago, I realized that NATO had one very important accomplishment to its credit: for three-fourths of a century, Germany and France have not gone to war with each other. That is something!
Using a common cause to bring ancient enemies together is an excellent move. I'm delighted to see Japan and South Korea, two of our most important East Asian friends, moving in that direction. And to see the U.S. playing a positive role in that meeting.
I am so pleased to see a post about some of the positive things that are happening in terms of world wide cooperation. Unfortunately, the chaos of United States politics has been taking all our attention; drama is like that.
None of us know for sure how the elections will turn out, and what will happen as the Trump cases make their way to the very conservative Supreme Court. However, I keep thinking of Bob Dylan’s song “The Times they are a changin.”
Indeed, times are changing. National borders mean less and less as the ravages of climate change know no artificial borders and the waves of refugees from climate change, and political turmoil will be going wherever there is safety, food and water no matter what walls or barriers are put up.
We are one humanity. However, we are besieged by powerful interests who have only short term greed as their motivator and I do believe they are doing unfortunately effective work at eroding our democratic institutions. They are getting us extremely close to the tipping point where democracy,as originally envisioned, will no longer be viable.
Does anyone have Plan B in case capitalism fails? There are some who are predicting that soon capitalism will “Blow up like a firecracker.“ Do we have an alternative? Is this an opportunity to plan now for a new system of governance that can work locally nationally and internationally?
The Progressive Utilization Theory or Prout has garnered much attention, particularly from those so such as Noam Chomsky. These new systems which include a new concept “economic, democracy“ should be given careful attention. Now is the time to plan for the future, and sometimes soon capitalism will no longer be our future.
Let’s work together to create a new future for ourselves, and the rest of the planet, before the planet reaches its tipping point.
You might check out www.proutalliance.org for more information on transformative alternatives for our future.
Thank you Heather for choosing to share concrete achievements negotiated by some of our greatest leaders EVER...... who love freedom and show respect to leaders of other countries, accomplishing what seems to be impossible!!! I am so grateful for leaders who choose to represent the ideal of democracy....I am so proud of the men and women who work to negotiate to free hostages who have been detained for political reasons.....families have suffered the most....missing out on years with their loved ones.
With all of the horrors and selfishness in this world....there is some decency ..... there is some goodness....even if it is self-serving. Thank you again ,Heather. I appreciate your letters and the wisdom shared in YOUR space.
I am keeping Zelensky in my prayers......what a brave, freedom-loving man. It is a David vs Goliath situation. May freedom win!!!!!
Thank you, Dr. Richardson, for reminding us how fortunate we are to once again have a sane and sensible administration. No wonder our economy is improving, we have reliable honorable and decent leadership. Thank you also for explaining the continuing conflict in Africa, The European nations of 3 to 4 hundred years ago certainly messed things up in Africa; forcing opposing tribes to form new nations and wantonly killing any who defied them. Is it any wonder they are still fighting today.
Biden's done a remarkable job of united an alliance to fight Russia, but the biggest laggard is the Roman Catholic Church and its Pope. I wrote yesterday "On the morning of June 2, 1979 church bells pealed across Poland as Pope John Paul II stepped from his plane onto the soil of his native country then knelt to kiss its ground. His dramatic gesture of devotion and his crusade against human rights abuses helped demolish the Soviet Union. Polish insurgents were allowed to meet, organize, and pass messages in Catholic churches as their Pope spoke out eloquently against Soviet wrongdoing everywhere. In 2003, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize and declined out of humility. In 2014, he was canonized. By contrast, the current incumbent, Pope Francis, has never directly condemned Vladimir Putin or Russia by name in the 18 months since their horrific war began against the Ukrainian people. Worse, the Pope’s first quoted reaction echoed Kremlin talking points when he suggested that the war was a consequence of “NATO barging at Russia’s gate” and the “international arms industry”. This Pope’s failure to publicly condemn Putin and Russia, and his moral equivocation when pressed, is unforgivable and reminiscent of the Papacy’s tacit acceptance of Hitler and his Second World War."
As always, thank you Heather. Your insights are on the spot and the historical context clarifies the issues. Your reXs are very interesting and enlightening too.
So refreshing to see the president of the US doing actual politics, after the seemingly endless years of Trump just screaming, bullying and continuously masturbating in front of cameras but amounting to nothing… Even if it isn’t all perfect, Biden is still doing a damn good job.
Thanks for focusing on Biden admin's foreign policy progress. It's easy to miss those things when focused on latest indictment.
Thank you for this extremely readable breakdown of the tremendous work Biden and the administration is doing on multiple —myriad!— fronts. Is there any politician in the US who had/has the knowledge and skill to have done this, especially in the face of the chaos their predecessor had left the country in?
I don't think so.
I believe the Biden Administration, more so than most of its predecessors, fully appreciates that we can only protect ourselves through and with others. Not their terms and not America’s terms but on common terms, the community of peoples, the community of nations. And those terms have to be negotiated.
So much very important work is being carried out around the world by this administration and yet the media fills it's collective space with repetitive chatter about trump. Reporting where he is, what he's doing, what he's saying, even video! Refreshing to read that there are coalitions forming to strengthen democracy and weaken dictatorships. Very sad that a vast number of our media outlets couldn't care less about protecting their viewers by informing them of the work that is being done on their behalf by this administration. Information needed to make decisions in our next elections coming in a little over a year. Thank you Heather for your thorough reporting of our foreign policy.
Thank you. Very informative. Hard to keep up with everything going on in the Middle East & Africa, with all the chaos we have here at home. I’m aware that in many ways, none of it is separate from the other. Everything is so interconnected & interdependent now. It’s the old “butterfly flapping it’s wings” story. Just so grateful we have you to keep us informed of the relevant information.
Before I was a Foreign Service Officer in Africa—Congo 1960-1966, I had made a documentary in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1954. (The rebellion in southern Sudan broke out in February 1955.)
I have subsequently followed Sudan from its early democratic independence to the sharp split between northern and southern Sudan. Recently independent South Sudan has been in disarray ever since.
In the north, military government, now challenged by a destructive rebel force, has shattered the country and uprooted millions of Sudanese. I do not envisage foreign diplomacy bringing stability in either of the Sudans in the foreseeable future.
Niger has recently experienced a military coup. I consider it highly unlikely that an African ‘military force’ can reverse this. French troops have been obliged to depart and 1,000 American troops (and three drone facilities, soon may do likewise.
These Sub Saharan countries are poor and have never been particularly stable since their independence over 70 years ago. Most are under military rule. Russia’s Wagner Group is significant in at least three of these. Alas, I do not envisage stability, much less democracy or economic improvement, in these Sahel countries in the foreseeable future.
“Several Republicans have opposed that [Iranian] deal. The senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, James E. Risch of Idaho, said that the ‘unfreezing’ of funds ‘incentivizes hostage taking & provides a windfall for regime aggression,’ and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) called the money ‘ransom’ and said it was a ‘craven act of appeasement’.”
One wonders if the esteemed senators had any comforting words for the families of the released prisoners.
I've never felt happy with NATO, particularly after the fall of the Soviet Union, when it seemed without an excuse for its existence. It went on a search for enemies, and arguably succeeded in turning the new Russia from a potential friend to what it is now. But a few years ago, I realized that NATO had one very important accomplishment to its credit: for three-fourths of a century, Germany and France have not gone to war with each other. That is something!
Using a common cause to bring ancient enemies together is an excellent move. I'm delighted to see Japan and South Korea, two of our most important East Asian friends, moving in that direction. And to see the U.S. playing a positive role in that meeting.
I am so pleased to see a post about some of the positive things that are happening in terms of world wide cooperation. Unfortunately, the chaos of United States politics has been taking all our attention; drama is like that.
None of us know for sure how the elections will turn out, and what will happen as the Trump cases make their way to the very conservative Supreme Court. However, I keep thinking of Bob Dylan’s song “The Times they are a changin.”
Indeed, times are changing. National borders mean less and less as the ravages of climate change know no artificial borders and the waves of refugees from climate change, and political turmoil will be going wherever there is safety, food and water no matter what walls or barriers are put up.
We are one humanity. However, we are besieged by powerful interests who have only short term greed as their motivator and I do believe they are doing unfortunately effective work at eroding our democratic institutions. They are getting us extremely close to the tipping point where democracy,as originally envisioned, will no longer be viable.
Does anyone have Plan B in case capitalism fails? There are some who are predicting that soon capitalism will “Blow up like a firecracker.“ Do we have an alternative? Is this an opportunity to plan now for a new system of governance that can work locally nationally and internationally?
The Progressive Utilization Theory or Prout has garnered much attention, particularly from those so such as Noam Chomsky. These new systems which include a new concept “economic, democracy“ should be given careful attention. Now is the time to plan for the future, and sometimes soon capitalism will no longer be our future.
Let’s work together to create a new future for ourselves, and the rest of the planet, before the planet reaches its tipping point.
You might check out www.proutalliance.org for more information on transformative alternatives for our future.
Thank you Heather for choosing to share concrete achievements negotiated by some of our greatest leaders EVER...... who love freedom and show respect to leaders of other countries, accomplishing what seems to be impossible!!! I am so grateful for leaders who choose to represent the ideal of democracy....I am so proud of the men and women who work to negotiate to free hostages who have been detained for political reasons.....families have suffered the most....missing out on years with their loved ones.
With all of the horrors and selfishness in this world....there is some decency ..... there is some goodness....even if it is self-serving. Thank you again ,Heather. I appreciate your letters and the wisdom shared in YOUR space.
I am keeping Zelensky in my prayers......what a brave, freedom-loving man. It is a David vs Goliath situation. May freedom win!!!!!
One unfortunate drawback to all this is that Biden’s true accomplishments cannot be reduced to an acronym on a hat.
"That embrace of cooperation is ... thanks to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken"
Meanwhile, the GOP: we must take down the Biden Crime Family.
Thank you, Dr. Richardson, for reminding us how fortunate we are to once again have a sane and sensible administration. No wonder our economy is improving, we have reliable honorable and decent leadership. Thank you also for explaining the continuing conflict in Africa, The European nations of 3 to 4 hundred years ago certainly messed things up in Africa; forcing opposing tribes to form new nations and wantonly killing any who defied them. Is it any wonder they are still fighting today.
Biden's done a remarkable job of united an alliance to fight Russia, but the biggest laggard is the Roman Catholic Church and its Pope. I wrote yesterday "On the morning of June 2, 1979 church bells pealed across Poland as Pope John Paul II stepped from his plane onto the soil of his native country then knelt to kiss its ground. His dramatic gesture of devotion and his crusade against human rights abuses helped demolish the Soviet Union. Polish insurgents were allowed to meet, organize, and pass messages in Catholic churches as their Pope spoke out eloquently against Soviet wrongdoing everywhere. In 2003, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize and declined out of humility. In 2014, he was canonized. By contrast, the current incumbent, Pope Francis, has never directly condemned Vladimir Putin or Russia by name in the 18 months since their horrific war began against the Ukrainian people. Worse, the Pope’s first quoted reaction echoed Kremlin talking points when he suggested that the war was a consequence of “NATO barging at Russia’s gate” and the “international arms industry”. This Pope’s failure to publicly condemn Putin and Russia, and his moral equivocation when pressed, is unforgivable and reminiscent of the Papacy’s tacit acceptance of Hitler and his Second World War."
As always, thank you Heather. Your insights are on the spot and the historical context clarifies the issues. Your reXs are very interesting and enlightening too.