· September, 2008

Stories about International Relations from September, 2008

Serbia: Fake Obits of Javier Solana

  30 September 2008

Central Europe Activ cites an item from “an award-winning Hungarian language blog of Serbian expats” on the fake Javier Solana obits that appeared “on Kosovo Street and around the Serbian parliament in downtown Belgrade.”

Iran: Mr. Ahmadinejad in New York

  30 September 2008

While Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinjad, addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday declaring that "the American empire'' and "Zionist regime" [Israel] are nearing collapse, pro-democracy Iranians and 3,000 people mobilized by a coalition of mostly Jewish groups, protested against Ahmadinejad's threats toward Israel and Iran's human rights record.

Bermuda, U.S.A.: Political Slander

  30 September 2008

Vexed Bermoothes is “glad that the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers is taking an active role in lobbying in the United States to slow down the political slander facing Bermuda.”

Ukraine: How Russian is the Crimea?

  30 September 2008

The 8th Circle discusses the Crimea and Ukrainian fears of a Russian secessionist movement, arguing that the peninsula could be compared to other European regions, which today could not be imagined seceding. He also refers to a new book on this theme by Ukrainian writer Taras Kuzio.

Pakistan: Zardari flirts and the Blogosphere reacts

  29 September 2008

The president of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari met with the US Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin in New York recently and used flirtatious words during the discussion. It seemed more like a courtship than a political meeting. Zardari made the following comments: “You are even more gorgeous in life....

China: Will a Nobel Peace Prize really hurt our feelings?

  28 September 2008

Hu Jia's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize has raised the question: are The Chinese People easily upset by the notion of human rights? Party spokesman Liu Jianchao would have you think so, and many netizens agree. Not all do, however, judging from comments that haven't yet been deleted.

Pakistani Bloggers on the McCain-Obama Debate

  27 September 2008

Pakistani bloggers found much to analyze in last night's televised debate between United States presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. What the US approach to Pakistan should be was a core part of discussion, since Pakistan has come under greater scrutiny in recent times and is considered a hot-spot....

Haiti: More than Charity

  27 September 2008

Haiti Reborn reports that the country's president is calling for “more than just ‘charitable’ contributions to Haiti's recovery.”

Cuba: Back to Normal?

  27 September 2008

Things appear to be getting back to normal in Cuba post-Hurricane Ike, but Generation Y questions the definition of “normalcy”: “I do not believe that a month ago we had anything resembling ‘normal.’ Furthermore, in the three decades that I have under my belt I do not think I have...

China: One Trillion US Bonds and Debt Scandal

  27 September 2008

According to a New York Times report in early September, the Chinese Central Bank has invested over USD $1 trillion on U.S. Treasury bills, bonds and debt securities. Among the one trillion dollar bill, $376.3 billion have been put into the mortgage backed securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,...