- BBC
- Pakistan releases CIA contractor
- Massive paedophile ring uncovered
- Ground assault on Libyan rebels
- US drones 'tracking Mexico gangs'
- Italy PM 'paid for sex 13 times'
- Syrian protesters defy Damascus
- Portugal receives debt downgrade
- 'Red tape' forces quake team home
- Jobless total hits 17-year high
- PM wants UN 'leadership' on Libya
- Bahrain onslaught on protesters
-
The 3Ds Blog
The 3-Ds Blog: Diplomacy, Defence, Development
Mark Collins - F-35: US Government Accountability Office Statement
Affordability for the US and partners is challenged by a near doubling in average unit prices since program start and higher estimated life-cycle costs. Going forward, the JSF requires unprecedented funding levels in a period of more austere defense budgets…
After more than 9 years in development and 4 in production, the JSF program has not fully demonstrated that the aircraft design is stable, manufacturing processes are mature, and the system is reliable. Engineering drawings are still being released to the manufacturing floor and design changes continue at higher rates than desired. More changes are expected as testing accelerates. Test and production aircraft cost more and are taking longer to deliver than expected…
J.L. Granatstein - Has Obama Failed?
It used to be said by critics that Canada offered all aid short of help in global crises; now regrettably the same might be suggested of the Obama administration as it loses its position and influence in a critical part of the world.
Marshall Plan Needed for Middle East
The peoples of the Middle East are instituting profound changes that will affect us all. We in Canada, and in the West, must be fully involved, in our own interests, and theirs, by responding generously to viable requests for aid and assistance across a gamut of challenges: justice mentoring, education, small business, civil society and unemployment.
They need to feel change in their conditions now. They need a Marshall type plan with immediate impact. If not these revolutions in the sand could turn sour fast. Everything from education in village schools, to the prospects for good governance, to peace in the region, is at stake.The Week Ahead in Foreign Affairs
Monday:
- G8 Foreign ministers meet in Paris for two days to discuss their response to the uprising in Libya.
Tuesday (Ides of March):
- Eurozone finance ministers gather in Brussels following an extraordinary summit on March 11 of European heads of state on the debt crisis. Meanwhile, the executive board of the IMF discusses the latest report on Greece in Washington after Moody’s last week slashed its credit rating from Ba1 to B1.
- South by Southwest festival of music, film and interactive conferences in Austin, Texas begins with lots of Canadian content.
- Microsoft launches its Internet Explorer 9 web browser at SbS
- Commonwealth day is celebrated. The theme this year is “Women as Agents of Change”
- London’s 2012 countdown clock will be unveiled in Trafalgar Square 500 days before the opening ceremony.
Thursday:
- Abu Dhabi Media Summit opens with a conversation between James Murdoch, News Corp Europe and Asia Chief Executive, and Canadian James Cameron, director of Avatar
- Shanghai semiconductor international trade fair begins
- St. Patrick’s Day and Barack Obama meets the new Irish Taoiseach (PM) Enda Kenny, for traditional “shamrock ceremony” talks at the White House
Friday:
- EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss improvements and challenges to the Lisbon treaty
Saturday:
- Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, a voice for reform in Egypt, talks on “The New Middle East” at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi.
- Egyptians vote on changes to the constitution, including new term limits for presidents and restrictions on government power to maintain emergency laws following resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak (Feb 11).
- Barack Obama starts a Latin America tour, including visits to Brazil to meet Dilma Rousseff, the new president, Chile and El Salvador to talk job creation, trade partnerships, energy, and security co-operation.Mark Collins - The Indispensable Military?
Suppose one agrees that something military must be done in Libya regarding Col. Gadhafi. It seems to me a telling, and sad, indicator of international realities that any such forceful action appears effectively impossible without considerable participation by US armed forces.
The Americans spend far more on defence, in total and per capita, than EU members. Very many criticize the US, often severely, sometimes stridently, for what they judge an American obsession with military strength.
( Possibly one should consider outcomes when proposing a course of action. Perhaps Iraqis can give us a 'heads up'.
Or better yet...Vietnam. Allowed to deal with their problems...they did. )
Mark Collins - Libya: No-Fly Zone?
What’s involved and what might happen:
1) No Sale on Libyan No Fly Zone - So Far (note no current US intent to send a real carrier)
2) Libyan Air Defenses Would Fade Fast
3) Libya: A no-fly zone is no way to deal with Libya
Britain should steer clear of another military intervention in the Middle East , writes Richard Dannatt [Chief of the General Staff, 2006-2009].
4) On Libya, too many questions (George Will)
Earlier (note “Comments”):
Gunboat Diplomacy
Mark Collins - A Retired US Diplomat Looks North
…because he ( Harper ) doesn’t throw horse manure in the U.S. direction every time he picks up a pitchfork, he is unforgiven by those that remain convinced the North American Free Trade Agreement is a USG plot to beggar our neighbor while sucking their natural resources (oil/water) into our insatiable maw…
…there is a further sense that the Canadian public remains suspicious of anything with a conservative label and is willing to bolt away from the party given the least excuse…
With our foreign policy cup overflowing, it has been pleasant to have a northern neighbor that is looking after its interests but not convinced that it must tell us how Ottawa could better run U.S. foreign affairs…
A Liberal government would be… different…Liberals express a traditional attitude against the United States. While Tories want the best relationship with the United States that will not cost them the next election, Liberals have always sought the worst bilateral relationship that would not prompt U.S. retaliation [very nice apposition, that]…
( Horse puckey. It's not all about you : not that there is any way to escape Yankee profiteering at our expense. Just check the misnamed Trade Appeal 'mechanisms' : who always wins ? And if not...there are always creative alternatives. Another way of looking at it : Harper is letting them 'have their way with us' unchecked.
A Lie-beral alternative? Jean Chretien torpedoed that idea in '93 when the Cons were destroyed... and he stole their election agenda. )
CBC
Comments From Left Field
Yahoo!
Gadhafi Loyalists Emerge in Rebel Areas - Wall Street Journal
Telegraph.co.ukGadhafi Loyalists Emerge in Rebel AreasWall Street JournalTOBRUQ, Libya -...
Praise for 'heroes' working to avert Japan's nuclear catastrophe - CNN International
( Right. Think their future will be any better than NYC firemen at the Trade Center ? )
Canada advises against all travel to Bahrain amid protests - Montreal Gazette
Globe and MailCanada advises against all travel to Bahrain amid protestsMontreal...
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