Long-time readers of the Gormogons’ will be familiar with the Volgi’s Fallacy of Foreign-Policy Egocentrism. This states, more or less, “it’s not all about us.” Which is a short way of saying that, because states determine their own interests and … Continue reading →
The East Europeans know they inhabit the battleground between the West and a Russia that wants to return them to its sphere of influence. Ukrainians see tens of thousands of Russian troops across their border and know they are looking … Continue reading →
Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ in Crimea Russians taking down the Ukrainian flag SEVASTOPOL/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine’s naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag … Continue reading →
In Moscow and Beijing, they still believe foreign policy is about military and economic power, “spheres of influence,” formal alliances, and political control. In Western Europe (and much of this administration), it’s about moral authority, international norms, and other kinds … Continue reading →
Or more broadly construed, oikophobia, the opposite of xenophobia, the distaste and hatred of the familiar, the home, the hearth, one’s own land. It’s a topic I’ve touched on before (here, for example; or dig around in this tag). But … Continue reading →
Via Jim Geraghty, the Daily Mail reports Ukraine remains under the sword of Damocles. Ukraine warned last night that 80,000 Russian troops were massing on its borders and could invade – as world leaders told Vladimir Putin to back off. … Continue reading →
Putin and others are hacking at the Pax Americana which sustains our historically peaceful, prosperous world. They need to be deterred, and we and our allies need to be serious about rebuilding the institutions, especially militaries, which have sustained it. As the Gormogons’ usual … Continue reading →
The American media is doing a really poor job of covering the Ukraine crisis, and this is largely because they ignored its importance for so long that they are scrambling to catch everyone up, what with gays not getting timely … Continue reading →
And he’s right. Not that it may matter. From the president on down through his secretary of defense, the service secretaries, and a cast of generals whose decorations would choke an alpine meadow with color, we are told that further … Continue reading →
Uncharitably speaking, this is what might be called the Paula Abdul theory of foreign policy, after the famously forgiving former judge on American Idol. Never mind that you can’t sing, or that you’re letting yourself be played for a sucker: … Continue reading →
Here’s a couple tiny excerpts, but you need to read Arthur Herman’s piece in the upcoming Commentary. Twice. Not just because it jibes extensively with Confucius’s* thoughts on the American military. Seriously. Make time. Print it out. Whatever it takes. … Continue reading →
Like Confucius*, John Bolton is worried, though he’s not quite as blunt, as befits a diplomat. For years, foreign policy optimists have predicted that China’s rise to superpower status would be peaceful and responsible. But recent Chinese offensives, both domestic … Continue reading →
Hmm. That doesn’t scan as well as it should. Still, hey, what’s keeping the Œcumenical Volgi up at night, playing insomnia chess with དགའ་པོ his Yeti assistant? War with China. You’ve heard this song before, but these days, it’s the … Continue reading →
Gabriel Schoenfeld asks: But an interesting question to ask about the policy is: Why is the United States always the supplicant? We have enormous military and economic power. Yet no countries are begging for talks with us. Part of … Continue reading →
Washington refused to endorse British claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands yesterday as the diplomatic row over oil drilling in the South Atlantic intensified in London, Buenos Aires and at the UN. Despite Britain’s close alliance with the US, … Continue reading →
Read the whole thing, it’d have to be scissored into a couple dozen bits to get all the good stuff. Here’s the beginning. The first meeting of the loftily named U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission’s Civil Society Working Group took place … Continue reading →
And to return to an unpleasant point, Confucius must mention again that, in our insular egotism, Americans of goodwill tend to assume everyone is as anti-racist as we are. When nothing of the sort is the case. Not least in … Continue reading →
They apparently took down Copenhagen singlehandedly (about which I’m not displeased); but as FotG David Frum notes: And not only wrecked the talks, but did so with a conscious display of disdain toward the West generally and President Obama personally. … Continue reading →
He’s writing another letter, it seems, this time to Kim Jong-Il, the dictator of North Korea who’s likely an alcoholic, malignant narcissist. The Gormogons have obtained a draft copy. Don’t ask how, but I can say it has something to … Continue reading →
Царь наш, your Volgi didn’t watch it, being consumed with analyzing the numerological-astrological-cosmological significance of a six-pointed Oriental fortress. However, what leaps out is the President’s implying that we’re going to try and be out of there in eighteen months … Continue reading →
…the Gormogons pester their Œcumenical Volgi thusly: The Czar: Write more about foreign policy, узкоглазный, or I will have you shipped to Semipalatinsk with the rest of the shirkers! GorT: Yesterday you will write less about foreign policy; tomorrow you … Continue reading →
John Noonan writes: The AFP is reporting that despite pulling the ground based mid-course interceptor from Europe, the Russians remain unhappy with Noble Laureate Obama’s missile defense plans. Ivan is, of course, playing the classic Russian game here — push … Continue reading →
He begins: During last year’s campaign, Sen. Joe Biden famously remarked that, if his ticket won, it wouldn’t be long before “the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy” on foreign affairs. Last week, President Obama, brilliantly wielding … Continue reading →
Tom Jocelyn at the Standard writes a good post today on the fact that “Obama’s Popularity Abroad Does Not Equal Gains for America.” In short: his personal popularity has not changed any of the complexes of problems with which President … Continue reading →
We’re selling out the Poles and Czechs to suck up to Bad Vlad. We are now on the clock for the next contemptuous gesture by Russia. And a Georgetown professor talks down to Burmese democrats. Thanks to Mike Goldfarb for … Continue reading →
Unfortunately on us. Prince Mikey G writes: Every time we try and capitulate, they slap us around some more. What fresh hell is this? Oh, well, Ahmadî-Nezhâd’s press advisor is claiming that we were offering to sell them some Boeing … Continue reading →
…made them feel secure enough to crack heads after the election fraud was revealed, says David Ignatius. One Iranian political figure has told a Western intermediary that the Obama administration may have unwittingly encouraged the regime’s power grab by sending … Continue reading →
…in return for his grin-and-grip and missile deal (where we accepted reductions in missiles they were going to retire anyway as in their favor). Biden to Georgia: Lie back and think of England. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like … Continue reading →
Apparently they were buzzing Alaska with bombers during the summit, in contravention of historical practice. J.E. Dyer at Contentions speculates, “Whether on Georgia, missile defense, or other issues, Putin may have read something in his eyes that Obama didn’t know … Continue reading →
Sleazebag Russian flunkies insult our president. You know, I thought these photos were just unfortunate moments caught like the G8 “checking out the ass” shot. But looks like not. Pick your explanation: insult the U.S. or not want to touch … Continue reading →
Toilet-bowl-dictatorship edition! So, we reach out…and are slapped down—by Zimfreakingbabwe. Mr Mugabe told The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe that nothing came out of his talks with Mr Carson – his first meeting with a US government official for many years. … Continue reading →
It’s what they do. Confucius, Œc. Vol.Don’t ask impertinent questions like that jackass Adept Lu. 3.14.242.153
Continue reading →With President Barack Obama’s trip to Moscow on Monday, you might expect Russia to avoid stirring up any trouble. Yet the Russian media are now abuzz with speculation about a new war in Georgia, and some Western analysts are voicing … Continue reading →
PR trumps war-fighting? Hearts and minds are very important, but killing the enemy is more important. Plus, you make this call, and immediately every Taliban stronghold will be surrounded by a ring of hostages. They’ll strap babies to their chests … Continue reading →
Ladies & Gentlemen, your Department of State: WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Monday its invitations were still standing for Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at US embassies despite the crackdown on opposition supporters.President Barack Obama’s administration … Continue reading →
We got your “not meddling” right here, buddy. (Savor that Reuters headline, too.) Man, if only there had been some precedent that would have allowed them to foresee this eventuality.* Let your Œc. Vol. be the first to state, incidentally, … Continue reading →
Doesn’t Kim Jong Il have a compelling personal story? Like Sonia, he grew up in a poor neighborhood (North Korea), yet he’s managed to become a nuclear power, shattering the glass ceiling to take his seat at the old nuclear … Continue reading →
Well now we are mad. The US warns North Korea not to launch a rocket over Japan. And we warn them not to do any more nuclear tests. Okay, well, this time, SecDef Gates says that if North Korea lets … Continue reading →
According to Mike Goldfarb, the Missile Defense Agency is on the chopping block. Just in time for the Taepodong launch. Your Volgi doesn’t get this at all. If we need this crazy, giant “stimulus” spend-a-palooza, why can’t we spend on … Continue reading →
A-yup. Whoever drafted President Obama’s public appeal to Iran has little or no idea about the way minds work out there. This gust of hot air spouting from the president of the United States was disconnected from reality, and so … Continue reading →
So, President Obama went on YouTube and delivered a message to the leadership of Iran of how he wanted to get together and rap about all the false consciousness that’s harshing our bilateral mellow. Which, of course, led to Iran’s … Continue reading →
It’s just about that painful to watch. No, not our Celebrity-in-Chief’s talk-show yukfest on Leno, but this dreadful piece of PR/public diplomacy performed by the president. Friend of the Gormogons Steve Hayes has the story here. Among other things, Obama … Continue reading →
