“Easier to spot a splinter in another’s eye than a log in one’s own” –Russian proverb Sometimes this blog gets accused of being too soft on Russia, despite my consistent criticism of its government’s political ideology, human rights abuses, authoritarianism and economic, social, journalistic, cultural, education, environmental, law enforcement, religious and foreign policies. Yet what […]
Bamyan province is one of the largest in the Hazarajat region of Afghanistan. It is located in the centre of the country and the majority of the people are Hazaras. According to government officials, throughout the country, twenty million people are living under the poverty line, from which 40% make a home in Bamyan. Poverty […]
Yesterday’s post comparing Russia Today to Fox News provoked an impassioned rebuttal. Russian translator, blogger and Second Life estate agent Catherine Fitzpatrick of Minding Russia berated me in a comment for ‘prettifying RT’ and ‘mislead[ing] the public’. What follows is one man’s quest to set the record straight. Dear Catherine, Thank you for your spirited […]
Barack Obama made his first trip to Afghanistan as president a few days ago, and during his 6 hours in the country he met with President Karzai, Gen. McChrystal, and Ambassador Eikenberry. It has been reported that Obama pressed Karzai on clamping down on corruption and that their conversations were very much ‘down to business’. […]
They were blasts heard round the world, except on Russian TV. And in the wake of the Moscow bombs, many Russians have condemned “the near-silence of the state-controlled TV channels hours after the explosions”, according to the BBC. One blogger, Anton Nossik, noted that a full 3 hours after the attacks, “he found normal daytime […]
Terrorism never happens in a vacuum, yet questions of motive remain largely taboo. We know that the female suicide bombers that killed at least 38 (hopefully this number will keep) innocent Moscow commuters came from the restive Caucasus region. We know that Medvedev and Putin, backed by Obama, have vowed to exact uncompromising revenge. But […]
David Fedman of FPA’s East Asia blog has written a thorough review of Michael Swaine’s “China and the AfPak Issue“. According to Fedman, in the piece Swaine, a China expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, ‘deftly outlines the myriad of often-competing strategic interests in the region that add texture to China’s foreign policy […]
Russia has got a spring in its step. It is reported to have finally agreed with the US on a new nuclear treaty, its state gas company is in line to take over Ukraine’s pipelines, and its loyal businessman has bought an influential British newspaper. It is resuming ties with its former Socialist allies, And, […]
War is a scary event which happens to destroy cities, lives and take everything a person would have in life. It is always difficult for children to understand what war is and why it happens. If children get affected by a frightening event like war, that affection would remain with them for the rest of […]
To really understand an international political issue or situation, knowledge of the local geography is necessary. A presentation I saw a few years back by an American marine who served in Afghanistan showcased that no modern technology, weapon, tactic, etc. could completely supplant the axiom that ‘Geography is destiny’. It is for this reason I […]
So, another day of anti-government riots in Russia, beginning with the requisite calls for Putin’s resignation and ending in dozens of arrests. What to make of it all? Ask the FPA Russia Blog’s MAGIC 8 BALL. Q. Do the protests have a lot to do with economic issues? It is decidedly so. “Support for Mr […]
Happy Novruz everyone. I am full on plov from the Seattle-Tashkent sister city celebration. Mmm. Kazakh Oil Company leaders have met with striking workers in Zhanaozen. Since March 4, several thousand workers have been striking over various issues relating to wages and leadership. As head of the OSCE, Kazakhstan is feeling some pressure to be a […]
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