Blog
A running commentary on politics, international affairs and culture
The Gibraltar Opportunity
What has long been a source of tension for UK and Spain could become the point of their future cooperation on the new international scene.
Rabat Sharpens Its Salami Slicer Over Ceuta
Ceuta’s crisis is not just about territorial and popular sovereignty, but yet another example of the Moroccan regime Machiavellian salami-slicing tactics.
Peruvian Elections 2026: Fujimori 2.0
Keiko Fujimori’s victory in Peru may signal an end to the country’s agonizing turmoil—but at the price of an increasingly autocratic regime like her father’s.
Makerfield and Reform’s New Problem
Farage is making the same mistakes as the Conservatives while Restore might end up like the Greens.
Leaving North Korea Tragically Alone
The tragic reality of a nuclear North Korea means its people’s liberation has been postponed indefinitely.
Actually Mr. President, You Screwed It Up
Trump running his mouth off at Netanyahu is probably justified, but the US president is really at fault for the disastrous intervention against the Iranian regime.
The Erdoğan Solution: Choose Your Opposition Leaders
Erdoğan’s discovery that no state of emergency is necessary when you can choose your opposition’s leadership for them.
Protests in Bolivia: Microcosm of Latin Left-Right Divisions
Bolivia’s ongoing protests represent much of the ideological polarization across Latin America—and it’s been remarkably resilient in being democratic about it.
Armenia’s Rock and Hard Place
Geopolitically in a tough spot, supporting Armenia’s move toward democracy is a strong cause for our solidarity.
The Farage-Polanski Factor
The realignment of British politics I predicted in 2019 is starting to take shape.
Palestinian Local Elections: Continued Optimism for Gaza
As Gazans vote alongside their Palestinian compatriots, just the participation itself represents some hope for reconciliation.
First Iran War: Bangs, Whimpers and Smoke
The First Iran War has been eventful, but US dithering has meant that the revolutionary change for Iran has still not materialized.
Elections in Hungary and Peru: One Out, One In?
As one autocrat is deposed, another often pops up somewhere else. While we can celebrate Orbán’s, Peru’s democratic crisis might be getting worse.
Israeli Democracy: The Battle on Two Fronts
Faced with threats from both outside and inside, believers in Israeli democracy must continue to shoulder the fight the for it.
You Can (and Should) Put the Clock Back—And Keep It So
As we put our clocks forward yet again after being promised an end to the practice, the heretical and unpopular case for wintertime couldn’t be any firmer.
Desperate Center-Left Looking to Cynical Sánchez
A center-left that is scared and desperate will look to ever more demagogic alternatives to save them.
Wrong Lessons in Iraq to Bad Mistakes in Iran
The specter of the devastating failures in Iraq are leading to the same mistakes in Iran, but the lessons we learnt were probably the wrong ones.
The Kicked Can Finally Runs Out of Road
After nearly fifty years of violent dictatorship and regional brinkmanship, could be it that the clerical fascist regime is seeing its last days?
Venezuela and Iran: Betrayal or Sloppy Realism?
Too many times myopic restraint leads to harder consequences, and in the cases of Iran and Venezuela, democracy might be losing out because of US sloppiness.
Realizing You’re Salieri
A meditation on Amadeus and how envy of true greatness can hollow the soul, and why humility may be the only path to peace.