Its' never a good day when these two countries square off against one another; hopefully, nothing worse happens.
Showing posts with label foreign relations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foreign relations. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
Canada Votes, 2025
Canadians across the frozen tundra of Canada voted today in elections polarized by the ongoing tariffs row between them and the United States. Links to election news below,
Over on my forum Conversations 2, I'm live-blogging results and news as they come in. Enjoy the evening and to my Canadian readers, if you haven't yet voted, go vote!
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Taking Back What Belongs to the Taxpayer
If there's one lasting legacy of the second Trump administration, hopefully it will be the reeling-in of so-called "independent agencies" (an oxymoron since they're still a part of the Executive Branch) back into the arms of the Executive.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Founders Quotes, 22-23 March 2025
Two George Washington quotes on international relations....
(1) Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. - Farewell Address, 1796
(2) My policy has been, and will continue to be, while I have the honor to remain in the administration of the government, to be upon friendly terms with, but independent of, all the nations of the earth. To share in the broils of none. To fulfil our own engagements. To supply the wants, and be carriers for them all: Being thoroughly convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so. - letter to Gouverneur Morris, 1795
International relations can be a fickle thing; Washington's sage words about not getting entangled in foreign adventures are words that I wish recent presidents would've taken to heart. Part of what makes a civil society functioning and successful is keeping out foreign influences, whether overt or covert, and making it clear that we wish the best for all but we are also prepared to deal out the worst if necessary.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Elon's Own Goal: USAid and India
own goal: (in soccer) a goal scored inadvertently when the ball is struck into the goal by a player on the defensive team.
I like Elon Musk's efforts vis-a-vis DOGE but damn if he doesn't set off a landmine or two in the process... Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” has been accused of setting off a political firestorm in India after it claimed that the US government had been sending millions of dollars to support the Indian elections.
In a list published on Musk’s social media platform X last week, Doge, a special group that Donald Trump created, claimed that a $21m grant distributed by USAid – the US agency for international development – to help “voter turnout in India” had been cancelled, as part of the president’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid.
However, records accessed by the Indian Express newspaper have found that no such funds were ever distributed in India and USAid staff have also denied the existence of such a programme. (The Guardian)
TL/DR: USAid supposedly gave millions to the Indian government when in reality the funds mentioned went to Bangladesh to support political engagement between them and the United States. A mistake to be sure; the own goal part is that this (a) gives Democrats a chance to attack Musk's efforts (and by extension Trump) and (b) allows China to crow about America's "wrecking ball" approach to international relations (something they can seize upon in the IndoPac region).
Like I said, an own goal that needeth' not to happen...
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