Month: August 2014

Last week in Iraq, American journalist James Foley was murdered by Islamic State. He was murdered savagely and painfully, and he was not even murdered in supposed punishment for a crime; it was merely to send a message to the West. If that were not enough, they then put a video of the whole killing… Continue reading This government has tacitly acknowledged its failure on anti-extremism. But Labour should examine its own conscience

As I wrote here a couple of weeks ago, foreign policy is not something that tends decide one’s electoral success as a British politician. But it is surely a test of one’s statesmanship.And if that is true, it pains me to say it but the only British political leader so far with a remotely statesmanlike… Continue reading Jihadism – four wrong responses

As Russia’s tanks approach the Ukrainian border – and a different group of tanks have apparently already crossed it – in a supposed “aid convoy”, I was struck yesterday by this fine piece by Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post, dissecting Obama’s foreign policy failures (well, I suppose it’s easier than trying to count his… Continue reading How much Obama really cares about Ukraine

No-one could exactly accuse President Obama of rushing into military action to deal with the resurgent Islamists of ISIS in Iraq, currently massacring local Christians and Yazidis. No, if there were a perfect illustration for the phrase “dragged kicking and screaming”, this would surely be it. But Iraq’s apparent political and military meltdown is, ironically,… Continue reading Labour risks being on the wrong side of history over Islamism

Britain, it is regularly noted, is an island nation and often behaves accordingly. It is a feature of modern British politics that, unlike some other countries whose very existence depends on their relations with larger, closer neighbours with whom they share a land border, foreign policy counts for little in the calculations of Westminster life. Elections… Continue reading Labour is tying itself in knots over Gaza