What do Trump and the election have to do with international law, politics, and security?
You cannot make plans for additions to your house while there is a bulldozer outside, with its engines revving, actively engaged in tearing down your…
Vladimir Putin
Biden’s Challenge: How do you campaign against a lying, neofascist cult leader?
On lies and Truth, see 1) Margaret Sullivan, “Fact-checking Trump’s lies is essential; It’s also increasingly fruitless,” Washington Post, August 29, 2020 (7:00…
In Belarus, Lukashenko appears to resume repression
For background, see “The democratic flame ignites in Belarus (Updated), The Trenchant Observer, August 14, 2020 (updated August 17). RUSSIA AND BELARUS On the eve…
The Elephant in the Room: Russia’s Role in the Demonstrations
The Elephant in the Room: Russia’s Role in the Demonstations One of the great unknowns is the extent to which Russia may have stoked racial…
Rehearsal for a coup d’état? Violence in American cities and “the chaos president”
Update See 1) Ryan O’Connell, “Come November, a U.S. coup d’etat? Could Donald Trump call out the U.S. Army again, after losing the November election?….
Das Scheitern des Völkerrechts in Syrien: Russland und Syrien, und jetz die Turkei
Siehe auch, Clemens Wergin, “FLÜCHTLINGSKRISE: Deutschlands epochales Versagen, Die Welt, 10. März 2020 (13:15 Uhr). Bento Scheller, in einer Meinung veröffentlicht in der Welt am…
The forgotten dream of ending war
Those who have known war are sometimes its fiercest opponents. Last night I watched a movie, Butterfly (i Girasoli) starring Sofia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, directed…
Übersicht: Die Lage in Libyen / Overview: The situation in Libya
Siehe / See: Alfred Hackensberger, “CHALIFA HAFTAR: Der unbeirrbare General,” Die Welt, 17 Januar 2020. Alfred Hackensberger provides in Die Welt a very sharp and…
Rasmussen poll: If an alien landed in Washington without a visa, should it be arrested and imprisoned?
It is important to pay attention to polling methodology and the wording of questions asked respondents. Leading questions based on false premises can produce highly…
Apple bows to Russian pressure, shows Crimea as Russian territory
Apple has recently bowed to Russian pressure and started showing the Crimea on its maps as Russian territory. See “Weltkarte: Bei Apple ist die Krim…
Without International Law, “anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
The Second Coming (published 1921) Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;…
To remove Trump, Democrats must speak to those operating outside a rational framework
President Trump Approval Rating, Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll, Oct. 14, 2019: Approve 49% Disapprove 50% In three years, the Democrats have not succeeded in breaking…
What’s behind Trump’s pressure on Zelensky to work things out with Putin
What’s behind President Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get together with Vladimir Putin and “solve your problem”? President Trump: And I really…
Putin-Zelensky deal on Crimea and recognizing fruits of aggression in Donbas would be void under international law
The Articles 52 and 53 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties provides that treaties whose adoption has been procured by the…
U.S. attacks against Iran likely (Updated 9-20-19)
September 1, 1939: German-Soviet alliance launches World War II with German invasion of Poland
See Paul Flückiger, “Ein Sieg, aber keine Kapitulation – vor 80 Jahren begann mit dem deutschen Angriff auf Polen der Zweite Weltkrieg; Vor 80 Jahren…
The Great Buffoon’s lack of support of Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter
Updated December 28; 2019 United Nations Charter, Article 2 The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act…
Foreign policy without International Law
Since the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the foundational writings of Hugo Grotius, nations have paid attention to international law in…
The Democrats may have already lost the 2020 elections — Part II
On June 13, we reported that President Trump’s job approval rating was 50%, according to the Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll: President Trump’s Job Approval Rating…
Democrats have already lost the 2020 elections
President Trump’s Job Approval Rating Favorable 50% Unfvavorable 47% Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll, June 13, 2019 On five of the last seven days Trump’s job…