On Japan’s Economy: Some Old Scribbles Show What Massive Fraud Has Taken Place Over Last Decade

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I just ran across some of my notes from a conference organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Hakone, Japan from March 12-13, 1999. I was about to toss these scribbles until I glanced through them and found so many gems they should probably go to the National Diet archives.

The Elliott Abrams Factor: Resident Skeptic on Middle East Progress

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Though it sometimes frustrates friends, one of my core beliefs is to engage those who disagree with my views — and also to give credit when and where credit is due. When I saw that the right-anchored Jerusalem Post was running an interview of Elliott Abrams with Ruthie Blum Leibowitz, I expected the worst.

Jim Lobe Gets Different Takes on Israel Election

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Inter-Press’ Jim Lobe, who also writes the LobeLog blog, has a good piece of analysis out about the impact of the recent elections in Israel on the Middle East peace process. Lobe interviews Marc Ginsberg, Aaron David Miller, M.J. Rosenberg and me. Miller is the most pessimistic.

Guest Post by Patrick Doherty: Smoke Signals from State Send Assurances

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Patrick Doherty is Director of the New America Foundation/U.S.-Cuba 21st Century Policy Initiative. This post first appeared on The Havana Note. This fascinating story from U.S. News and World Report is the first public signal to the government in Havana that Washington is listening to the messages the Cuban government is sending. It’s good timing….