Afghanistan And The End Of The Nation-Building Fantasy
May 11, 2021 | By Alberto M. Fernandez
As the U.S. begins its withdrawal from Afghanistan,[1] much of the commentary takes two diametrically opposed tracks. One notes the 20-year U.S. presence, the massive expenditure in blood and treasure, the specter of forever wars. The other notes the same sunk cost in Afghanistan but sees the very real danger of terrorist resurgence by an extremist and triumphant Taliban, still closely allied with Al-Qaeda, and the likely fall of the current pro-Western government in Kabul.[2] There is truth in both positions but this is nevertheless a bitter moment in American foreign policy that perhaps could have been avoided, or at least, had a cheaper price tag.
Taiwan Business TOPICS
By Austin Babb and Jason Wu
Guidelines, Visit Show Improving U.S. Ties
U.S.-Taiwan relations are showing further signs of strengthening as Washington continues to make overt gestures of support for Taiwan. The U.S. Department of State recently released an update to guidelines regarding interactions between American diplomats and their Taiwan counterparts. In a short press statement, the State Department highlighted Taiwan as a “vibrant democracy and an important security and economic partner,” and said that the new guidelines “liberalize guidance on contacts with Taiwan.” Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim and other Taiwanese officials and politicians took to Twitter to welcome the State Department’s decision.
2021/05/06 16:06 Taiwan envoy to U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim Taiwan envoy to U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwanese envoy to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) called for deeper bilateral trade relations and greater cooperation on promoting democratic values in an article featured in the American online newspaper The Hill. In the article, titled “Confidence in a stronger Taiwan-U.S. relationship,” Hsiao mentioned last month s trip to Taiwan by former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg. The visit was timely, she said, “as it comes at a period of growing Chinese aggression.”
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Conflict With China Over Taiwan should Not Be Discounted : Australian Defence Minister
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said April 25 that a conflict involving China over Taiwan cannot be discounted adding that ADF was prepared.
Image Credits: AP
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said April 25 that a conflict involving China over Taiwan cannot be discounted but he insists that the Australian government was still focused on having “good relations” with Beijing. His statement comes amidst a time when Sino-Australian ties have deteriorated considerably pertaining to issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, trade and Chinese assertion in the pacific. Meanwhile, Beijing has stepped up its efforts-both military and diplomatic- to intimidate Taipei to give up the struggle for its discreet identity.
CIA Leak Fast Facts
Here’s a look at the 2003 CIA leak involving then-operative Valerie Plame and senior members of the George W. Bush administration.
After a lengthy investigation, one member of the Bush administration, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, was brought to trial and convicted of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements.
Timeline
March 2002 – Wilson tells the CIA he doubts Iraq tried to purchase uranium from Niger.
January 28, 2003 – In his State of the Union speech, President Bush says, “The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.”
June 12, 2003 – According to the New York Times, a conversation takes place between Vice President Dick Cheney and Libby, his chief of staff, about the covert identity of Plame, who happened also to be Wilson’s wife.