Back story: how NATO emerged from the ashes of WWII The Second World War had been over for roughly a year when former British prime minister Winston Churchill stepped on a podium at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. There he thundered: "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent." On March 5, 1946, at this tiny rural college, Churchill announced the dawn of the Cold War. In this now famous Sinews of Peace speech, he also called for the creation of a military force for "the grand pacification of Europe within the structures of the United Nations." Seated not too far from Churchill, then American president Harry S. Truman listened closely. Truman would, a year later, tell the US parliament that he intended to stanch the communist wave halfway across the Atlantic Ocean, and for that he needed to spend money. It quickly became clear though, that money was not enough to stall Soviet advances. Joseph Stalin, communist … [Read more...] about NATO at 70: what does the future hold for the military alliance?
Harry s truman college
US Minister David Gray couldn’t grasp subtlety of Irish neutrality
In part two of a series on the 75th anniversary of the American Note, Ryle Dwyer sees that some diplomats were more in tune with their missions than othersDuring the Second World War, David K. Bruce was based in London as head of European operations of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He visited Dublin on behalf of the OSS in 1943.He later went on to become one of the most famous American diplomats of the post-war period — serving as US ambassador to West Germany, to France, and to the UK, before being appointed in 1970 to head the American delegation at the Vietnam peace talks in Paris. He was in Paris in October 1970 when I wrote to him, asking why he visited Dublin in 1943.He explained, in reply, that US minister to Ireland David Gray “was concerned about any possible liaison between the OSS and Irish officials”. He went on to describe Gray in glowing terms that really hinted of damning him with irrelevant praise.After describing him as “a fine man, … [Read more...] about US Minister David Gray couldn’t grasp subtlety of Irish neutrality
US Minister David Gray couldn’t grasp subtly of Irish neutrality
In part two of a series on the 75th anniversary of the American Note, Ryle Dwyer sees that some diplomats were more in tune with their missions than othersDuring the Second World War, David K. Bruce was based in London as head of European operations of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He visited Dublin on behalf of the OSS in 1943.He later went on to become one of the most famous American diplomats of the post-war period — serving as US ambassador to West Germany, to France, and to the UK, before being appointed in 1970 to head the American delegation at the Vietnam peace talks in Paris. He was in Paris in October 1970 when I wrote to him, asking why he visited Dublin in 1943.He explained, in reply, that US minister to Ireland David Gray “was concerned about any possible liaison between the OSS and Irish officials”. He went on to describe Gray in glowing terms that really hinted of damning him with irrelevant praise.After describing him as “a fine man, … [Read more...] about US Minister David Gray couldn’t grasp subtly of Irish neutrality
Who is Stacey Abrams?
Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate who narrowly lost the race for Georgia governor in 2018, will deliver the Democrats' rebuttal to President Trump's State of the Union address on Feb. 5. The response is traditionally delivered by member of Congress or a sitting governor, making Abrams an intriguing choice given that she doesn't currently hold a political office. However, as a progressive black woman who was defeated by one of Mr. Trump's endorsed candidates, party leaders may be hoping that she can deliver a speech which demonstrates the stark differences between Republicans and Democrats. BiographyAbrams, who is one of six siblings, was born in 1973 in Wisconsin, although her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, during her childhood. Both of her parents later became Methodist ministers. Abrams graduated from Spelman College, a historically black liberal arts college for women in Atlanta, and studied public policy at the University of Texas at Austin as a Harry S. Truman Scholar. … [Read more...] about Who is Stacey Abrams?
AP-NORC poll: Shutdown drags Trump approval to yearlong low
WASHINGTON – A strong majority of Americans blame President Donald Trump for the record-long government shutdown and reject his primary rationale for a border wall, according to a new poll that shows the turmoil in Washington is dragging his approval rating to its lowest level in more than a year. Overall, 34 percent of Americans approve of Trump's job performance in a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That's down from 42 percent a month earlier and nears the lowest mark of his two-year presidency. The president's approval among Republicans remains close to 80 percent, but his standing with independents is among its lowest points of his time in office. "Trump is responsible for this," said poll respondent Lloyd Rabalais, a federal contractor from Slidell, Louisiana, who's not affiliated with either political party. The 47-year-old has been furloughed for more than a month. He said he'd need to start drawing on his retirement savings … [Read more...] about AP-NORC poll: Shutdown drags Trump approval to yearlong low