One of the most discussed issues at the U.N.’s Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) conference is whether ammunition should be fully included in the scope of the treaty. Predictably, opinion at the conference is strongly (though not universally) in favor of full inclusion. This mistake illustrates the broader fallacies of the …
In his first interview since leaving office, former Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus urged for “a paradigm change” in European politics that shifts control to individual, sovereign nations and away from centralized power. “Europe is in a very problematic situation,” he said. “Europe needs a radical political process that has …
The morning’s discussion at the U.N. on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) brought into focus one of the underlying tensions among the nations negotiating the treaty. While the holier-than-thou contingent wants to use it as a way to restrain oppressive governments, the autocracies view it as a way to prevent …
The parliament of Cyprus today emphatically rejected a European Union (EU) bailout plan that would have taxed private bank deposits. The plan did not garner a single vote in support, while 36 members voted against the plan; 19 parliamentarians abstained and one was absent for the vote. The deeply unpopular …
As the Chinese National People’s Congress reveals various governmental restructurings (not to be mistaken for reforms), an important one is the streamlining of Chinese maritime law enforcement forces. The various Chinese maritime law enforcement agencies, including the coast guard, fisheries enforcement, and anti-smuggling police forces, will be consolidated over the …
Today, The Heritage Foundation commemorates and honors Dr. William Van Cleave, who passed away on Friday. Dr. Van Cleave, former Marine, was an astute champion of U.S. national interests and an experienced negotiator on strategic issues. As a participant in the U.S.–Russia Strategic Arms Limitation Talks negotiations in the 1970s, …
This week, President Obama travels to the Middle East, including his first visit to Israel since becoming commander in chief. The trip comes at a challenging time of declining U.S. leadership abroad and waning economic freedom and prosperity at home, a regrettable combination that the President’s own policies have created. …
Russia’s objections to U.S. missile defense development and deployment have been on the agenda of consecutive American Administrations starting with Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. For President Obama, it became a high priority as Moscow turned missile defense disagreement into a principal bone of contention. But he threw it under …
