Lets Sue OPEC

Who thinks its a good idea to sue OPEC, the group of countries that controls oil supplies? Apparently the House does, which reminds me why Congress should not be making foreign policy decisions.
"But the White House said such suits could spawn retaliatory measures by oil-producing countries and "lead to oil supply disruptions and an escalation in the price of gasoline, natural gas, home heating oil." The administration urged "diplomatic efforts ... rather than lawsuits in U.S. courts" to address global oil production. "
So thank your local congressman/women for the higher gas prices to come.

Clinton's Strategy?

Does Hilary Clinton have a foreign policy strategy?
I would define a strategy (grand strategy or vision to be simple) as your plan to deal with all current and future military threats and challenges, whether they be military, political, or economic.
For all the faults of the Bush Admin (of which there are many, particularly foreign policy ones) at least they had a vision. Most would suggest their strategy was one of preemption or offensive realism. The plan would be to confront threats before they reach our shores. We all now know how dumb this strategy was, attack a potential threat and you miss the actual threats (Iran and NK). You also make new ones (unstable Iraq, embolden Iran). Its the "Minority Report" version of international affairs. Bad movie, bad policy. But what alternative does Clinton offer?

Now, am I unfairly picking on Hilary? Maybe. But she is the front runner for the Dems who are likely to win this round. She also consistently attacks Bush's mistakes, so it is only fair to ask what guidance and views would she put forth if elected?

To start off, most international history books now cite Bill Clinton as an extreme foreign policy failure. From his reluctance to get involved in genocide (Rwanda) and other human rights disasters (Haiti) to his half-hearted attempts to deal with our future enemies (Iraq and NK) and weak attack on Kosovo that limited military options, he failed all around. Lucky for him, this whole Iraq thing has done more damage than Bill ever did, so no one seems to mention that anymore. So if she is running on this nostalgia for the good old Bill days, I am of course going to be critical.

So does she offer anything new or different for the future?

On Iraq
"Asked in Red Oak how she would disengage from Iraq, she gave a precise, nuanced and up-to-the-minute answer: Withdraw the troops from the areas of sectarian conflict like Baghdad, keep a small force fighting al-Qaeda in al-Anbar province, move some troops to the Turkish border, protect the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and other civilian facilities, maintain a special-operations capability. And then, instead of the usual lip service to training Iraqi forces, she said, "We may also leave some forces to help train the Iraqis if there seems a chance this Iraqi government will get any better. But I'm doubtful about that."
I would think Turkey might not like the above idea. Also, leaving only troops to protect the embassy might make them consistent targets.

"Sen. Clinton has explained that she is not sorry for voting as she did; she only regrets "the way the president used the authority."
I am not really sure how you can regret the way Bush used his authority. You give someone the authority to go to war, they go to war, and then you are upset with them?

"After all, she has long supported using the U.S. military to serve humanitarian aims, and it's logical to conclude that the experience in Iraq has done little to shake her faith."
This statement is consistent with what I have been saying for years, failures are never learned. People only learn from success. How can you be for humanitarian efforts yet against Iraq? Wasn't the whole issue humanitarian in the first place (before the WMD thing)?

It has been stated that her service on the Armed Services Committee gives her unparalleled national security expertise. I don't see how this can be the case. Look at the bills passed during the last Congress. It doesn't really seem like they are debating issues relevant to foreign policy. Her own Senate webpage on her national security/foreign policy successes/initiatives is largely bare of real foreign policy issues. Where is her position on Iran, North Korea, or even Russia?

The best case we have for Clinton's foreign policy strategy comes from a 2006 speech. Things did not go well from the begging when I read this quote:
"We need the founders' understanding that a stronger America comes from strengthened bonds with other nations"
Which is funny if one remembers Washington's quote about avoiding alliances or how American screwed over France to make peace with Britain after the Revolution.

"We need new vision and leadership in the global fight against terrorism."
Agreed, so what your vision?

So here it is, wait for it...
"They include our enduring friendship with Israel, our firm commitment to the security and well-being of our own people, our friends and our allies, and a belief that dreams of democracy and human rights are ones that America can and must help make real."
So what new vision does she propose? That we remain friends with Israel, protect ourselves, and advance the course for democracy and human rights (isn't that what we did in Iraq?). Stunning reversal.
It seems like we will stay the course in the Middle East, plus try to piss off some other states like Saudi Arabia.

What changes does she propose?
"We have to be conscious of the humility that is necessary in the exercise of power."
Good idea, too bad the whole Iraq war and the world's hatred of the US makes this a moot point.

I just love this part
"I don't believe you face threats like Iran or North Korea by outsourcing it to others and standing on the sidelines...U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal. We cannot and should not — must not — permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons. In order to prevent that from occurring, we must have more support vigorously and publicly expressed by China and Russia, and we must move as quickly as feasible for sanctions in the United Nations."
So to solve the problems in the world in the face of 'outsourcing," America will outsource our issues to China, Russia, and the UN. Way to stay away from the flip flopping thing Hilary.

Overall, I am not convinced that Clinton can provide the foreign policy leadership required now. This is not to say that I see someone better, I just don't like the idea that she might be the solution. Candidates need to propose a real vision, not a bunch of criticisms and banal statements that no one would object to.

McCain is actually funny

McCain is coming up big with me lately. First off all, he actually seems to have a sense of humor and a good memory of facts. I thought the whole "Maybe his solution will be to get out his small varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" comment directed towards Romney was just a joke. I didn't know there was background to the whole incident.

"Then, with a chuckle, he made his cutting quip that referenced two embarrassing episodes for Romney in the past six months.

Romney has faced criticism for calling himself a lifelong hunter even though he joined the National Rifle Association in August and officials in four states where he has lived said he never took out a hunting license. Defending himself, he said in April, "I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter, small varmints, if you will."

Also, The Boston Globe reported late last year that several illegal immigrants, including at least one from Guatemala, worked at the lawn care company that worked on Romney's two-and-a-half acre property in a Boston suburb for a decade. His aides have said that Romney was not aware of the workers' status, and that the owner was in the country legally."

Btw: I am not happy with the Dems for delaying the bill in the Senate. The more time this takes, more ridiculous amendments will be added to the bill.

Quantifying Progress in Iraq

Everyone knows how much I love quantification. So how do we know if there is progress in Iraq? The Brookings Institute (which is supposed to be bipartisan or right leaning) seems have come up with a novel way to do so.

"The Iraq Index is a statistical compilation of economic, public opinion, and security data. This resource will provide updated information on various criteria, including crime, telephone and water service, troop fatalities, unemployment, Iraqi security forces, oil production, and coalition troop strength. The index is designed to quantify the rebuilding efforts and offer an objective set of criteria for benchmarking performance. It is the first in-depth, non-partisan assessment of American efforts in Iraq, and is based primarily on U.S. government information."

Lets all bomb Iran!

Threat begets threat which then begets more threats. This is the story of international history, things do not change. We are seeing the same process today. American attacks Iraq which makes Iran pursue nuclear weapons all the more quickly. Iran succeeds in enrichment of uranium and American threatens again. The cycle will continue until one side is defeated, yet it is the people who will suffer the most.

Mr. John Bolton is at it again, rattling the sabers.
"Iran has "clearly mastered the enrichment technology now...they're not stopping, they're making progress and our time is limited", he said. Economic sanctions "with pain" had to be the next step, followed by attempting to overthrow the theocratic regime and, ultimately, military action to destroy nuclear sites."

Immigration Reform

Lots of news today regarding a new immigration reform initiative.
"Immigration is a tough issue for a lot of Americans," Bush said. "The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty, but without animosity."

I am not sure how all this is going to pan out since the bill still needs to be composed in a final form and voted on. At least if the Reps and Newt are pissed, something good must be happening.
"The pact could shatter at any moment. Immigration is among the most complex and emotional issues that Congress confronts. Senate debate, scheduled to start Monday, will determine if the bipartisan coalition can fend off Republicans opposing legalization and Democrats wary of a massive new temporary worker program that would start at 400,000 low-skill workers a year and could rise as high as 600,000."

Some suggest this is proposal will weaken American security, yet when was the last time a terrorist has come through the Mexican border?
"The president is so desperate for a legacy and a domestic policy win that he is willing to sell out the American people and our national security," Tancredo said."

"Mr. Dobbs opened the program by calling the deal an apparent victory for “the pro-illegal-alien lobby.” The administration was “hellbent on creating a North American union without the consent of the American people,” he said, and the plan could “threaten national sovereignty and security as well.”

But the idea of a points systems for skilled labor seems to ignore the need in America for unskilled labor. Bringing only those with an education will make it tougher for American workers to get high paying jobs. Bringing unskilled laborers fills a demonstrated need.
"The proposal also would shift the criteria for permanent residency away from immigrants with family in the U.S. and toward those with skills that could help the economy. About 40 percent of "guest worker" visas would be earmarked for applicants with in-demand skills or job experience, advanced degrees and English language skills who would be expedited ahead of others seeking a work visa. "

It also seems unfair that those who want to be become permanent citizens in the future will have to return to their home countries for a year. I would think that we should want the money and the industry of these immigrants to contribute to the American economy, not their homeland.

"David Guerra wants to be legal, but he says the path to citizenship offered by the Senate on Thursday would be too risky and too expensive, and could end up driving him deeper into the shadows. Guerra's wife and children in El Salvador depend on the $300 he sends home each month from his job as a day laborer. Key provisions of the legislation would require him to return home to apply for residency, pay a $5,000 fine and spend thousands more in application fees."



Overall, there seems to be lots of contradictions and bad ideas, but something is better than nothing...right?

Immigration FAQs

Details of immigration proposal

United States is the 4th Reich?

It is not everyday America gets compared to the Nazi's (well maybe it is).

"We do not have the right to forget the causes of any war, which must be sought in the mistakes and errors of peacetime," Putin said. Moreover, in our time, these threats are not diminishing," he said as he delved into what one expert said was clearly an allusion to U.S. foreign policy. "They are only transforming, changing their appearance. In these new threats - as during the time of the Third Reich - are the same contempt for human life and the same claims of exceptionality and diktat in the world."

ps. Good thing I just finished an entire academic paper on this subject.

Mental Health and the Military

This seems to be buried in the news. This report was released on a Friday, during primary elections season...maybe someone does not want to some information to get around. Information like the fact that length of deployment and separation from family may be a signficant factor in the deterioration of someone's mental health. Mental probelms lead to increased anger and 10 pecent of all surveyed admitted to mistreating a civilian or civilian property. Just a thought, maybe someone should be looking at the mental and physical health of our military men before we have a 'lost generation' on our hands.

Read for yourself here.

Intro to IR Review Session

The review session will be on Tuesday, May 8th at 1pm in room BSB 1171.

Dipomat Speaker

This is not an extra credit event:

Careers in International Affairs

Anthony Benesch

Diplomat in Residence

Come listen to the U.S. State Department’s Diplomat in Residence discuss career opportunities in government service. Internship programs and fellowship opportunities (language programs) will be also be discussed.

May 3^rd (New Day and Time)

Noon, BSB 140

Presented by the UIC Political Science Department

Pizza will be served!

Lecture: Children and War

Panel Discussion on the Recruitment of Child Soldiers Worldwide

Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch;
Bernardine Dohrn, Northwestern University;
Lynette Jackson, University of Illinois-Chicago

Thursday, May 3rd, 6:00 pm

University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Center East Room 302
750 South Halsted

COST: FREE

Israel Report

Here is the link for the Israeli government's report on the recent war in Lebanon.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Do you know why Latinos are coming to America? It is not because of the jobs, schools, or great tv shows like Grey's Anatomy, but because the devil made them do it. It is all part of his insidious plan to bring down America from the inside. Nevermind that most Latinos are devoutly religious...And students ask why I study International Relations instead of internal domestic politics, I present exhibit number one.

Satan behind illegal immigration, Utah County Republican claims
"In order for Satan to establish his 'New World Order' and destroy the freedom of all people as predicted in the Scriptures, he must first destroy the U.S.," his resolution states. "The mostly quiet and unspectacular invasion of illegal immigrants does not focus the attention of the nations the way open warfare does, but is all the more insidious for its stealth and innocuousness."

RIP David Halberstam

David Halderstam just died and I wanted honor and support the work of a man who wrote on two subjects close to my heart, politics and sports. I will never forget reading the Fifties as an undergrad, one of the first 'textbooks' I ever enjoyed reading.

New Approach to Diversity in Faculty Hires

Typically when we seek to hire diverse candidates, a hiring committee adds a name to the short list of someone who might be a minority. This new approach sounds like the best option, instead department should seek to hire any minority they deem of suitable quality, regardless of field. In this way departments might be able to increase the numbers of minority profs (which is important if the student pool is diverse) who have a better chance at tenure.

New Approach to Diversity

"Which is more important — that a department have all of its disciplinary subfields represented or that it diversify its faculty?...But as a small liberal arts university in a rural setting, Colgate has a hard time holding on to minority professors — and so needs to keep hiring them as well as trying to encourage more of them to make their careers at the university. Roelofs has asked departments to flop the second and third criteria. Excellence will stay on top, but diversity would generally trump subfield choice."

Last time I picked on France so I guess its fair I pick on England now. I happen to like the country since lately I have been hooked on English tea, Manchester United, and the Kaiser Chiefs. In any case, I am definitely going to read this book.

The Evil Empire: 101 Ways England Ruined the World
"They invented slums. They invented child labor. They put Saddam Hussein in power. They burned Joan of Arc at the stake, and they enslaved the globe to get their tea fix. We're talking about England, of course, and the terrible evils they've set loose on the world. In The Evil Empire, American author Steven Grasse documents the 101 worst atrocities of Mother England everything from foxhunting to the invention of the concentration camp. With an irreverent mix of historical facts, smart commentary, and red-blooded American arrogance, Grasse offers a devastating critique of the country that gave us the machine gun, factory labor, and the metric system. Publishing just in time for the Queen's birthday (April 21), The Evil Empire is essential reading for true-blue Americans and others oppressed by the English throughout history."

Chomskey and Zinn on Vietnam, Iraq, and History

Seems like an interesting interview. Conservatives probably should not read this for fear of heart attacks.

In Rare Joint Interview, Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn on Iraq, Vietnam, Activism and History

Miss Mexico

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

Reading for Rivalry

Leskiw and Valeriano reading for next week is located here

The Hensel, Diehl, and Goertz article can be found here

Intro to IR Schedule

Here is our schedule for the rest of the semester:
April 19: International Law
April 24: Balance of Power
April 26: Democratic Peace
May 1: Concerts and Collective Security
May 3: Diplomacy

Final Exam: Thursday, May 10 10:30-12:30

Russia!

Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence

Mr Bean!

If you call me Mr. Bean, I swear I won't cry...maybe.

I'm sorry for selling my story, says Iran hostage Mr Bean

"Seaman Batchelor's claim that he cried himself to sleep after his Iranian captors likened him to the comedy character Mr Bean made him a laughing stock.
One serving soldier posted: "Batchelor didn't do the reputation of servicemen much good either! Being broken by being called Mr Bean FFS! - that must be on a par with Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition and the comfy cushions."

"Another angry contributor wrote: "They should be expelled from the Armed Forces. Maybe HMS Cornwall could make a series like The Loveboat or be used for Big Brother? The Royal Navy seems intent on becoming a complete laughing-stock."

Diplomat Event

Careers in International Affairs

Anthony Benesch

Diplomat in Residence

Come listen to the U.S. State Department’s Diplomat in Residence discuss career opportunities in government service. Internship programs and fellowship opportunities (language programs) will be also be discussed.

April 17^th

Noon, BSB 140

Presented by the UIC Political Science Department

Pizza will be served!

Next?

What goes up, must come down. But who will be the next world power. Cracked.com has a few ideas.

"Now, several other countries are poised to snag the title of “International Big Dog” from the reigning champ, so we've compiled an “it” list of the contenders. Only time—and World War III—will tell!"

War for Oil?

It is pretty hard to argue that the United States went to war in Iraq to grab oil if the United States fails to get any oil out of the deal. Also, don't forget the price of oil has jumped considerably because of the conflict in Iraq.

And Iraq's big oil contracts go to ...

"Despite claims by some critics that the Bush administration invaded Iraq to take control of its oil, the first contracts with major oil firms from Iraq's new government are likely to go not to U.S. companies, but rather to companies from China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia."

Why did Iran take the British hostage?

There is always a reason why things are done in the world of international politics. Apparently Iran was upset with American attempts to take a few Iranians hostage so they retaliated.

The botched US raid that led to the hostage crisis

"Better understanding of the seriousness of the US action in Arbil - and the angry Iranian response to it - should have led Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence to realise that Iran was likely to retaliate against American or British forces such as highly vulnerable Navy search parties in the Gulf. The two senior Iranian officers the US sought to capture were Mohammed Jafari, the powerful deputy head of the Iranian National Security Council, and General Minojahar Frouzanda, the chief of intelligence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, according to Kurdish officials."

South Park Rivalry

Last week South Park covered rivalry in that the British were behind the 'snuke' (suitcase nuke) that was, ummm, placed in Hilary. The point being that American's tend to forget their oldest enemy, British (which was an enduring rivalry.)

"An episode of South Park featuring the Queen committing suicide is provoking outrage. But if the show is famous for anything, it's for going too far."

Lecture on India-U.S.

I am delighted to invite you to an upcoming event that is part of our series, The Global Affairs Forum. Our guest speaker will be Indian Consul General, Arun Kumar. Consul General Kumar’s topic will be The Indo-US Relationship in the 21st Century. The event will consist of a presentation by Consul General Kumar, followed by a question and answer session with UIC students and faculty.

Consul General Kumar has served India as a career diplomat for more than 30 years. He has served in Italy, Tunisia, Ghana, Zaire, Dubai, and Yugoslavia. Mr. Kumar served as Joint Secretary in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and has conducted international policy research in India and abroad. Consul General Kumar has always advocated building strong connections between the next generation of leaders in India and their counterparts in the United States.

This program will take place on Wednesday, April 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Fort Dearborn Room, on the 3rd floor of UIC’s Student Center East building at 750 S. Halsted Street. Light refreshments will be served.

Kindly confirm your attendance at The Global Affairs Forum by responding via e-mail by Wednesday, April 11th. Please address your e-mail to Katya Nekrasova at enekraso@uic.edu. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Borders and War

In addition to territory being a common cause of war, it might also be interesting to look at the proportion of border incidents that become international incidents.

A Deadly U.S.-Iran Firefight

"U.S. soldiers [and] Iraqi forces on a routine joint patrol along the border with Iran, when they spotted two Iranian soldiers retreating from Iraqi territory back into Iran. A moment later, U.S. and Iraqi forces came upon a third Iranian soldier on the Iraqi side of the border, who stood his ground. As U.S. and Iraqi soldiers approached the Iranian officer and began speaking with him, a platoon of Iranian soldiers appeared and moved to surround the coalition patrol, taking up positions on high ground. At that point, according to the Army's statement, the Iranian captain told the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers that if they tried to leave they would be fired on. Fearing abduction by the Iranians, U.S. troops moved to go anyway, and fighting broke out.

France Lecture

Friday, May 4, 2007 12:00 PM NEW!
France and the United States: Perspectives on the Past and Prospects for the Future
Jean-David Levitte, French Ambassador to the United States
The Chicago Club
81 East Van Buren
Chicago, IL 60605
Members: $35
Nonmembers: $45

Myspace Israel

Yup, diplomacy is dead. Israel is the hip-new cool place to be on Myspace. I only wish I had a page so I can make Israel, Mexico, and England my top three friends.

Israel goes on the virtual offensive
"We saw that we had a problem with the age group of 18 to 35, and the reason is that this group doesn't see Israel as relevant. So we have to talk to them in their language, in platforms that they are using, and the new media is one of the ways to do so." In addition to the MySpace page, the state of Israel also now has its own blog -- the first country-as-a-whole to have one, according to Saranga. The blog is called "isRealli" so as to incorporate the word "real." It also sports the slightly odd subtitle, "The New Blog of Israel."

Why Blog?

I keep getting this question, why blog when you are untenured? The reasons are simple:
I want to post news articles for my students to read.
I want to link to important and interesting research.
I want to highlight local talks and events that might be of interest to my students.
I like to be funny sometimes and AIM is boring now.
I won't quit because I never do that.

So its that simple. This whole blog thing does not take much time. Link an article, add a snarky comment, find a funny photo...done, 10 minutes tops.

Ninjas! Military!

I really got more excited about this article than I needed to be.
Angola sends 2500 'ninjas' to Zimbabwe

Speaking event

Speaking event for extra credit.

Solving the Darfur Equation

The past four years have seen hundreds of thousands of Darfuri civilians killed, and millions more subjected to displacement, starvation, and rape by the Janjaweed militia. The Sudanese government is accused of supporting this militia, so what are the real prospects for resolving the conflict in Darfur? Does the solution fall to outside forces? What are the consequences of the conflict spilling over Sudan’s borders?

Please join the GOAt audience in welcoming these experts to the Schubas’s stage to discuss this important issue…

Schubas

3159 North Southport
Chicago, IL 60657

6:30 p.m. – doors open
7:00 p.m. – talk/audience Q&A following discussion

$10 – members/nonmembers

Would the last NeoCon to leave Washington Please Turn Out the Lights

Moderation in foreign policy, what a shocking concept.

Sensing Shift in Bush Policy, Another Hawk Leaves

Robert Joseph is the latest to leave an administration that some conservatives say has lost its clarity of mission.

Facts on File

Here is the link to the Facts on File resource
*only for UIC students. Use this instead of Wikipedia or random newspapers of dubious quality.


And here is a pic of some dogs I have been wanting to put up just for the heck of it.

http://www.2facts.com.proxy.cc.uic.edu/stories/digest-home-feature.asp

Our crazy North Korean Uncle

Lots of rivalry stuff in this article.

Cleaning Up the 20th Century

Asian history runs deep in the negotiations to disarm Kim Jong-il.
"History can be omnipresent or repressed in northeast Asia, but nearly everyone agrees it is festering and unresolved. Historic resentments and nationalist anger are volatile and easily inflamed, as evidenced by the outrage that followed recent comments by Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, about Korean “comfort women” in World War II. Yet, most often, that anger is compartmentalized to protect the hum of commerce. China and Japan conduct record bilateral trade even as public attitudes in both countries can range anywhere from mutual distrust to open loathing. North Korea is a bit like the crazy uncle whose refusal to stay locked and quiet in the region’s attic has forced everyone to the same table, with historic baggage and contemporary rivalries in tow."

French History of Warfare

France, not so good on the war thing. I have no idea if the following is a complete record of France's involvement in war. I could check but that is just putting way too much effort into this whole blog thing when I should be publishing.

France 4 - World 28
- American Revolution
- In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans, France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does most of the fighting."

- French Revolution
- Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

We Are Going to Hell

I knew I was going to hell for something, I didn't think it would be capitalism.

Chavez launches biting US attack
"Those who want to go directly to hell, they can follow capitalism," Mr Chavez said in the town of Trinidad in Bolivia. "And those of us who want to build heaven here on earth, we will follow socialism," he added"

PS: The Mayans are a little insulted that Bush came to town:
"That a person like (Bush), with the persecution of our migrant brothers in the United States, with the wars he has provoked, is going to walk in our sacred lands, is an offense for the Mayan people and their culture,"

Diplomacy is not dead, it is just a little distracted

Morgenthau believed diplomacy was dead because we don't have good diplomats anymore. He may have been right.

Israel recalls 'naked ambassador'

"Israel has recalled its ambassador to El Salvador after he was found drunk and naked apart from bondage gear. Reports say he was able to identify himself to police only after a rubber ball had been removed from his mouth. "