Commitments Obama Needs from Brazil
President Obama will travel to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador in the next week. Hopeully his trip to Brazil will be better prepared than his…
United Nations
Libya—America Abdicates Global Leadership in Struggle for Democracy
Today is a sad day for the Observer, as America abdicates its moral leadership in world affairs by adopting the role of mere spectator of…
Libya and “The Audacity to Act”
The Audacity to Act We are watching in Libya an authoritarian state use the weapons of modern warfare to put down protests which were peaceful,…
Lebanon teeters on the brink
Hezbollah is threatening to break up the “unity” government of Lebanon, as reports and rumors suggest Hezbollah members may be indicted by the prosecutor of…
REPRISE (from March 26, 2010): Afghanistan U.N. SRSG de Mistura Describes U.N. Electoral Role; What Are Allied Forces Fighting For?
Originally Published March 26, 2010 In his first press conference, Staffan de Mistura, the new Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), described what he…
Targeted Killings: U.N. Special Rapporteur Alston Publishes Report to U.N. Human Rights Council
Today, Philip Alston, a highly distinguished human rights expert and U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, published a report addressing international law…
Afghanistan: U.N. SRSG de Mistura Describes U.N. Electoral Role; What Are Allied Forces Fighting For?
In his first press conference, Staffan de Mistura, the new Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), described what he and the United Nations are…
Viagem de Clinton, Irã (Irão) e Armas Nucleares no Brasil
O OBSERVADOR INCISIVO Ao contrário da Argentina, o Brasil lutou com os Aliados na Europa na segunda guerra mundial. O presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da…
Clinton’s Visit, Iran, and Nuclear Weapons in Brazil
Unlike Argentina, Brazil fought with the Allies in Europe in World War II. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (“Lula”) played a leading role in…
Understanding Obama’s Dilemma: Key Articles on Taliban Advances, CIA Role, Karzai’s Brother, Magnitude of U.S. and U.N. Failures
The situation in Afghanistan is desperate. (Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Washington Post, September 14, 2009). The U.S. tilt toward Karzai during the electoral process may be related…
NEWS TO NOTE—Karzai discounts contribution of withdrawn U.N. staff
In a stunning statement made during the course of a News Hour Interview with Margaret Warner, Afghan president Hamid Karzai has suggested that the activities…
COULD U.N. TAKE CONTROL OF AFGHAN ELECTIONS TO STOP SECOND ROUND FRAUD?
U.N. SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ASSUME CONTROL OVER ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, POSTPONE SECOND ROUND IF NECESSARY (developing)
LAST EXIT ON THE ROAD TO DEFEAT IN AFGHANISTAN
Suggestions for U.N. Security Council Resolution under Chapter VII