RSS

A careful selection and summary of editorials, commentaries, and analyses from the world’s leading newspapers and magazines to help you stay on top of the latest debates and developments in the transatlantic agenda. See list of monitoring sources.
Readers can also see how the perspectives and priorities diverge in different regions.

Yemen is Not Afghanistan - Yet

Sana,  the capital city proves the country is far from the gloomy picture of a terrorists' homeland. ++ In spite of Al Qaeda's deterring influence on tourism, there are English-speaking newspapers, N.G.O.s and a Yemeni population willing to overcome difficulties.++ But Sana's week central government over a "patchwork of rural tribes" has allowed Al Qaeda to take root in the lawless southern region. ++ Most Yemeni people are illiterate and live on less than $2 a day. ++ Education good governance are solutions to stop the "Al Qaeda Virus."

Iraq Inquiry Threatens Blair's Legacy

The results of Britain’s inquiry into the legitimacy of the Iraq War threatens to tarnish Tony Blair’s legacy. ++ Evidence suggests that Blair agreed to commit troops to Bush’s war “no matter what happened”. ++ Despite attempts to charm his interrogators and the British people, Blair is viewed as little more than George W. Bush’s lackey. ++ Further damaging testimony accuses Blair of misinforming his cabinet members and essentially duping them into supporting the war. ++ The final report is expected to come out by the end of this year.

Term Two is an Uphill Battle for Merkel

After the first 100 days of her second term, Angela Merkel is receiving poor reviews from both the German public and the media. ++ The new “political dream team” of the Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats is quickly turning into a nightmare. ++ Many argue that the Christian Democrats’ vague campaign has translated into a dull second term agenda. ++ “She has been stung by critics who say she isn’t so much leading her new government as moderating it.” ++ Conditions for Merkel are expected to worsen before they improve.

EU-US: the One Way Love

President Obama has declined an invitation to the US-EU summit in Madrid this May due to domestic priorities. ++ Europeans face declining American interest in the EU and are considering postponing the summit. ++ Various signs prove them right; the Lisbon treaty has not yet answered Kissinger’s question: "If I want to call Europe, who do I call?" ++ The EU seems more interested in the US than the US in the EU. ++ If diplomacy is really about signs and symbols, the EU has reasons to be worried. 

Realist Idealism in Iran

Iran’s well known nuclear ambitions prove American diplomatic engagement wrong. ++ There is a clear need for reconciliation between both realist and idealist approaches. ++ A balance can be reached by supporting the Green Revolution to ensure a democratically appeased regime on the one hand and by expressing solidarity instead of military commitment on the other hand. ++ Promoting ways to consolidate the various anti-government minorities into a sustainable and organized opposition looks like such a way.

London Conference Exposes Contradictions

Last week’s London conference has reached two major consensuses: there needs to be a 5 year plan to shift security responsibilities to the Afghan people and Taliban members need to be lured out their ranks and into the mainstream. ++ The summit exposed a number of contradictions between goals and strategy, namely between the US troop surge and political reconciliation with the Taliban. ++ “Until coalition forces are able to bolster their position militarily and talk from a position of strength the Taliban will have no incentive to negotiate.”

US Deficit Projected to Shift World Order

President Obama has projected that it will take at least ten years to eliminate America’s budget deficit. ++ The US could face a situation similar to the one Japan did—as its debt rose, its influence worldwide declined. ++ “How long can the world’s biggest borrower remain the world’s biggest power?” ++ For this reason, Obama hopes to wind down the war in Afghanistan as soon as possible. ++ Obama will have to balance short-term spending on job creation with long-term cuts in domestic programs.

Israel and Palestine Do Better on Their Own

Obama has inserted himself in the midst of a conflict even more difficult than the one between Republicans and Democrats, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ++ Despite Obama's shift from an optimistic to a pessimistic outlook for the region, there has been progress made in the last year. ++ Violence in both territories has decreased, there have been no suicide attacks against Israel, and there is a strong economic outlook for both areas. ++ Much of this success can be attributed to Israel and Palestine tuning out world leaders.

Davos Reveals Unexpected Gap

The Davos Economic Forum 2010 reaches very little outcome regarding the current economic and financial challenges. ++ Still, what strikes most is the surprisingly widening gap between fast-recovering emerging economies and old struggling transatlantic economies. ++ As opposed to Europe and the US spending 25% of their GDP on refunding the financial sector, 75% of the world growth has been achieved on a Mumbai-Shanghai axis. ++ Davos questions the relevance of the G20 nowadays.

3 Step Survival Kit for the Eurozone

The EU will bail out one of its fellow members for the first time in its 11 year-long honeymoon with the euro. ++ After Greece and Portugal, Spain is likely to ask for support as well. ++ What should be done in order to prevent the eurozone from faltering?++ First, a transparent crisis-management system to impose string-attached bail-out plans; second, a strong political leadership from the Eurogroup; and third, more financial European integration . ++ Lack of political will is again more to be feared than monetary difficulties themselves.