Archives: March 2009

I am in Miami for a couple of days and this beautiful pic was taken from my balcony yesterday evening. I have been discussing US-Cuba relations with quite a number of Cuban-Americans who live here.

In an impulsive backlash against the warrants issued by the ICC this week, Sudanese President al-Bashir halted the work of 13 relief organizations operating in his country, leaving, “1.1 million people without food, 1.5 million without medical care and more than one million without drinking water.

This is a guest post for The Washington Note by CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies Charles Freeman. The entry first appeared on Freeman’s facebook page. Freeman previously served as assistant U.S. trade representative (USTR) for China affairs.

In England, home of the English language, the word “trillion” is rarely used. Instead, the phrase “a thousand billion” is used instead. I recommend that the US follows suit.

Today at 12:45 pm, I will be hosting an event in the US House of Representatives on the subject of “Congressioal Views on US Approaches to Gaza.

The International Criminal Court just issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC’s first indictment of a sitting head of state is likely to be a game changer, both globally and in Sudan.

This morning I left Washington Dulles, and it was about 14 degrees outside. Now I’m in Corpus Christi, Texas planning to speak tonight and tomorrow to groups organized by the World Affairs Council of South Texas/Corpus Christi and Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. It’s 73 degrees outside. Really.

One of the interesting things to observe after George Bush issued his dictate to the world — “You are with us or against us” — was how some of those nations “with us” began to assume that their importance to and relationship with the United States was “unconditional” and that they could do virtually anything…