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22. John J. Metzler

2 Koreas split on UN move on Ukraine War

A year after Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the U.N. General Assembly firmly and sternly rebuked Russia's brutal war against a sovereign country. With a thumping majority of 141 in favor, only 7 against and 32 abstentions, the Assembly again issued a non-binding resolution demanding Russia's military withdrawal from Ukraine and calling for a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”

2023-03-01 16:50

South Africa plays patsy to Russia and China

The timing is terrible but intentional. The setting is suspicious. The symbolism is deeply troubling. Almost a year to the day of Vladimir Putin's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the Russian Navy as well as Chinese Naval units are carrying out ten days of joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean with strategic but officially non-aligned South Africa.

2023-02-27 16:55

Talking sense to the Taliban?

It seems like a profound contradiction; trying to convince Afghanistan's Taliban authorities to accept foreign humanitarian help for their own starving population. Thus as beleaguered Afghan civilians endure a brutal winter, the sanctimonious Islamic fundamentalist regime in Kabul has largely restricted international aid agencies because they employ women.

2023-02-09 17:00

Japan's defense reawakening

There's a significant sea change occurring in Japanese defense policy. Some would say it's the result of a political Tsunami. Others would argue it's a long overdue wake-up call.

2023-01-24 16:40

Cuban spy release shines light on darker tragedy

It's all about the timing. Ana Belen Montes, an American who served more than 20 years in federal prison for spying for the then-Castro regime while serving as a senior analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Washington, has been released. But this case is hardly the ho-hum end to another Cold War espionage story.

2023-01-19 16:30

Koreas to remain on alert in 2023

It's that time of year to gaze into the crystal snow globe and try to see the stories on the horizon which will affect the New Year. Our world remains an increasingly tumultuous place and the tragedy of expanding conflicts is only surpassed by the waves of refugees fleeing those troubles.

2023-01-12 16:45

Why does Biden want to buy Venezuelan oil?

During the U.S.' Thanksgiving holiday, the Biden administration announced it was quietly reversing policy and allowing limited petroleum imports from Venezuela. The Treasury Department lifted restrictions permitting a six-month deal to ease sanctions so that Chevron petroleum can buy and then ship Venezuelan crude oil to American refineries.

2022-12-13 16:50

North Korea looks for attention with missile diplomacy

North Korea's petulant and isolated regime wants attention. It's thirty-something dictator, Kim Jong-un, vies for the noxious notoriety that much of the world has focused on Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine or Xi Jinping's military threats to Taiwan. Poor little Kim had his fire and fury moment back in 2017 until he was put back in his box by the Trump administration.

2022-12-07 16:50

Iran pulls back the veil

The women-led uprising against Iran's Islamic Republic continues. Under the inspiring slogan, Woman, Life, Freedom, the movement confronting Tehran's theocratic regime is widening and has now gained vital political support from key Western countries, many of which have long rationalized their political and business links with Iran.

2022-11-24 14:03

UN panel slams Beijing's rights abuses in Xinjiang

A high-level U.N. panel has slammed Beijing's ongoing and egregious human rights abuses in the western Xinjiang regions of the People's Republic. China's human rights violations have been committed through the use of “severe and undue restrictions” that are “characterized by a discriminatory component, as the underlying acts often directly or indirectly affect Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim communities.”

2022-11-09 14:29

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