Articles written by Frida Ghitis
By Frida Ghitis
11 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
As the United States steps up its campaign to impose economic sanctions
on Iran, fears are growing in Washington and in the Middle East that
Iran will try to trigger a new war in the region in order to shift
attention from its nuclear activities. The concern is not a direct attack, but rather that Tehran will spark a new confrontation between Israel and one of its Iran-allied
neighbors.
By Frida Ghitis
04 Mar 2010 |
World Politics Review
In the wake of a major natural disaster, the narrative arc that subsequently unfolds has the potential to reshape the political landscape of the affected country. After this weekend's massive earthquake in Chile, keep an eye on the response from the governments -- both the outgoing and incoming one -- to see how the quake ends up altering that country's long-term political picture.
By Frida Ghitis
25 Feb 2010 |
World Politics Review
If you want to get an early read on the ultimate success or failure of President Barack Obama's policies for the Middle East, keep an eye on
Syria. His administration's strategy for addressing a number of
conflicts in the region has hinged on changing Syria's behavior. Now, as engagement with Damascus gathers momentum, we will begin to see if Obama gets anything in return.
By Frida Ghitis
18 Feb 2010 |
World Politics Review
There were no bright explosions lighting up the horizon, but this week's
coordinated deployment of U.S. diplomats as well as military,
intelligence and political leaders -- all warning of dire consequences
for a defiant Iranian regime -- amounted to an Obama-style re-enactment
of the Shock and Awe tactics made famous during the opening salvo of the
war in Iraq.
By Frida Ghitis
17 Feb 2010 |
WPR Blog
Mossad tops the list, but there are other suspects, too.
By Frida Ghitis
11 Feb 2010 |
World Politics Review
When Iran
announced
this week that it would start enriching its uranium stockpiles to 20
percent it closed the first chapter in the history of the Obama
administration's foreign policy. That chapter has ended in
failure. The administration's push to get started on Chapter Two is already
visible, presumably adopting a more muscular American posture to
confront international challenges
By Frida Ghitis
04 Feb 2010 |
World Politics Review
In the 11 years since Hugo Chávez became president of Venezuela, the
country has experienced almost constant political and economic drama. Despite the stiff competition of years past, though, 2010 is already
taking shape as a year of reckoning for the country, the man, and the
ideology. Chávez will not go down without a fight. This is the year of the fight.
By Frida Ghitis
21 Jan 2010 |
World Politics Review
JERUSALEM -- A recent assassination attempt targeting Israeli
diplomats posted to Jordan is a stark reminder that, while the international community
ponders diplomatic formulas and economic sanctions as a way to stop
Iran's nuclear program without going to war, Israel and Iran are
already at war. For now, it is mostly a cold war -- with flashes of
extreme heat.
By Frida Ghitis
14 Jan 2010 |
World Politics Review
JERUSALEM -- The Obama administration is working hard to correct the
missteps it made in the opening phases of its attempt to mediate a
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The administration is learning from its mistakes and better understanding the nuances of this complicated conflict. And yet, its propensity to make counterproductive moves persists.
By Frida Ghitis
07 Jan 2010 |
World Politics Review
President Barack Obama tried his best to avoid it, but the moment has
now arrived when he has no choice but to impose new sanctions on Iran.
The challenge now is to find the formula that will prove effective in
pressuring the regime without undermining Iranian protesters who have
risked their lives to demand change.
By Frida Ghitis
24 Dec 2009 |
World Politics Review
The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has faced challenging
times before, but in recent months, Tehran has been confronted with one
crisis after another. The threats of severe international sanctions
over its nuclear program are mounting, just as domestic strife
undermines the legitimacy of the regime. With its plate so full, why
did Iran suddenly decide to taunt Iraq?
By Frida Ghitis
17 Dec 2009 |
World Politics Review
In the face of criticism from across the political spectrum, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech this week presenting the Obama administration's approach to human rights. In it, she articulated a policy that
holds fast to progressive values, while keeping a close eye on the need
to achieve results. She called the new approach "Principled Pragmatism."
By Frida Ghitis
10 Dec 2009 |
World Politics Review
For countries without the luxury of the large military budgets that fuel
hard power or the massive cultural and economic assets that underpin
soft power, a third way has emerged as a path to global influence. Call
it "Mediating Muscle." But the competition has become fierce between countries vying to become influential players on the global scene by mediating
international conflicts.
By Frida Ghitis
03 Dec 2009 |
World Politics Review
Every few months, Israelis undergo an emotionally wrenching
experience, with one family in particular experiencing it on a level no
other could comprehend. With cruel regularity, the media announce the imminent release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit,
captured by Palestinian operatives more than three years ago. Though Israelis yearn for his release, they fear the cost may prove overwhelming.
By Frida Ghitis
26 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have ranged over the years from
coolly cordial to openly hostile. After all, the two countries have very different histories and conflicting political ideologies, and they stand on opposing sides of
the Shiite-Sunni divide. In recent months, strains in the relationship
have greatly intensified, bringing the neighbors dangerously close to open
confrontation.
By Frida Ghitis
19 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
Middle Eastern diplomacy has intensified enormously in recent months, but don't expect to see peace break out any time soon as a result of that new burst of activity. That's because the latest wave of diplomacy has surfaced in a most unlikely place: South America, which is fast becoming a proxy for the not-so-cold war between Iran and Israel.
By Frida Ghitis
12 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
President Barack Obama has managed to improve the popular standing of the United States in many countries previously hostile to it. Ironically, though, relations between Obama and the leaders of U.S. allies have turned rather frosty, particularly in Europe. If Obama's first foreign policy chapter was marked by engagement with America's foes, the next chapter may well require improving ties with its friends.
By Frida Ghitis
05 Nov 2009 |
World Politics Review
Before 9/11, no one could have predicted that attacks concocted in
remote, impoverished Afghanistan might have such a cataclysmic impact
on history. Now we know that we ignore such states at our own risk.
That's why remote and impoverished Yemen, a country by all appearances undergoing a slow-motion collapse, is likely to draw increasing
attention -- and cause increasing alarm.
By Frida Ghitis
29 Oct 2009 |
World Politics Review
One of the most reliable lessons one gleans from observing
intra-Palestinian politics is the need to always expect the unexpected.
Important events have a tendency not to unfold according to plan. We
should keep that in mind when considering Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas' sudden call for new parliamentary and presidential elections to be held on Jan. 24.
By Frida Ghitis
22 Oct 2009 |
World Politics Review
The disturbances following last June's presidential election revealed one of Iran's great weaknesses: widespread
discontent with a regime of questionable legitimacy. Now that the
regime has suppressed the protests, however, the problem of internal
dissent has not ended. As it turns out, Iran has another Achilles'
Heel, one just as debilitating as its political rifts: its deep ethnic
divisions.
