Two years ago yesterday, major news outlets reported that American graduate student from Vanderbilt University vacationing in Israel was murdered by a knife-wielding terrorist in the Israeli town of Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, near the location where US Vice President Joe Biden later met with former Israeli President Shimon Peres. Around 10 others were also injured in a spate of … [Read more...]
New Years Resolution for U.S. Foreign Policy
This piece was written at the beginning of 2017. Are we seeing much change with the current administration?Over the past nine years, the U.S. government squandered much of its credibility and standing in the world which provides it the capability to lead the advancement of worthy causes including democracy and universal rights.[1] The Obama administration’s abdication … [Read more...]
Maybe We Should Just Get It Over With: The “Global, Grave, Given and Growing” Threat of North Korea
by Scott FaithMedia sources across the country are touting the 15-0 vote by the United Nations Security Council that imposes a new round of economic sanctions on North Korea’s banks as well as raw material and seafood exports, citing it as “doing something” about what many world leaders are describing as the “global, grave, given and growing” threat posed by the rogue … [Read more...]
Modern Insurgency as a Lingering Effect of the Industrial Revolution
The industrial Revolution, late 1700’s through the early 1800’s, was the incidental, if not intentioned, result of the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, 1648, which collectively are known as the Peace of Westphalia. Arising from and concluding the Spanish and Dutch 80 years’ war and the Dutch and Germany portion of the 30 years’ wars, the Peace of Westphalia established the … [Read more...]
Ulama in the Kingdom: Useful Pawns or Strategic Partners?
Ulama in the Kingdom: Useful Pawns or Strategic Partners? by Mike KelvingtonPrior to reading portions of Nabil Mouline’s The Clerics of Islam I did not see the ulama, or Islamic clerics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as anything more than religious pawns for the royal Saudi family to use when they needed to justify political decisions or legitimize their actions. … [Read more...]
“Never Forget”: Rising Up to Call Genocide ‘Genocide’
I’ll never forget standing outside the gates of the Mathhausen concentration camp to tour the prison camp at noontime. The tour guards said, “We’re closing for lunch. You can come back after lunch or if you want to tour Mathhausen right now, we’ll lock you in while we go eat lunch.” On a tight deadline to arrive at our evening destination, we said, “That works for us.” We … [Read more...]
An American Diplomat, “A Better Life”
A year ago, Donna Hernandez completed her training as a Consular Officer for the US Department of State. This is the story of how she got there. _____ by Donna HernandezMy grandfather moved the Hernández family to California, my father’s first step towards a “better life.” In my father’s “better life” he has been a low-rider, a gang member, a factory worker, a mason, and … [Read more...]
“Roofied” in Russia: US Diplomats Drugged at St. Petersburg Party
"Roofied" in Russia: US Diplomats Drugged at St. Petersburg Party by Scott FaithIt's no secret that US/Russia relations have been taking a beating lately. From hacking, to military posturing, to interference in the US elections, relations are rapidly spiraling downward.The deteriorating relations have translated into a level of harassment of US diplomats on a scale … [Read more...]
Old Marines Return to Cuba to See Old Glory’s Historic Return
Only one short year ago, the flag of the United States flew over the American embassy in Havana, Cuba for the first time since January 1961."We are gathered here today because our leaders, President Obama and President Castro, made courageous decision to stop being the prisoners of history and to focus on the opportunities of today and tomorrow. This doesn't mean … [Read more...]
Spotlight: A Contrarian View towards Israel
If you are an “I Support Israel” type of person, be forewarned—the odds are, you will hate this article. This is not some anti-Semitic article. It has nothing to do with religion or the Jewish faith. It has everything to do with the politics, policies, and practices of an actual nation state--Israel.If you have the abilities to separate your passion, and everything you have … [Read more...]