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By Marwan Bishara in Imperium on March 8th, 2010

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The Iraq elections underline the tenacity of its people and their determination to take back their country.

Iraqis have succeeded in pulling away from the brink despite, not because, of US policies over the last seven years.

Crediting George Bush's policies for hard earned Iraqi accomplishments adds insult to injury.

It was not only the timing of declaring "Mission Accomplished" from a battle ship that was proved unfortunate, but the whole notion of 'US victory' in Iraq is utterly nonsensical considering the horrific human, societal and other costs.

Accomplished - or not bloody accomplished - the US mission has turned Iraq into a complete mess.

By Rob Reynolds in Americas on November 30th, 2009
Photo by EPA

On Tuesday, Barack Obama, the US president will go before cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point - and a national and worldwide television audience - to announce his plan and strategy for Afghanistan.

He’s expected to say he will send something in the order of 30,000 extra troops, perhaps as many as 35,000. He is also going to outline a plan and a time frame for turning responsibility for the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda over to the shaky and corrupt Afghan government, so that American forces can be brought home eventually.

I think the actual number of troops is not the important thing. 30,000 or 40,000 or even 100,000 or 300,000 troops would still be too few, if the goal is to entirely wipe out the Taliban. What is important is how Obama conveys to the American people the mission in Afghanistan.

By Nour Odeh in Middle East on November 17th, 2009

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Palestinians are getting ready for the biggest diplomatic battle of their recent history. This is becoming apparent, in light of the high-tone of political statements exchanged by Palestinian, Israeli, and other officials.

Senior Palestinian officials have announced that they intend to go to the United Nations Security Council and secure a resolution recognizing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Such a resolution would by no means change the rules of the game or the already accepted terms of a resolution to the conflict, Palestinians argue.

By Hamish Macdonald in Europe on October 27th, 2009
Photo by Getty Images

It was a shock to switch on British domestic television today to find the former Australian Prime Minister (now happily retired) turning up on a political chat show. Since his loss at the last election to Kevin Rudd's Labour party, John Howard has hardly said a word in public, much less on British television.

Despite a couple of years of near silence, it seems John Howard is still standing by his old mates. Remember the "coalition of the willing"?

So, on the topic of the day: should Tony Blair be given the new post of European President? Howard's reply:

"Its none of my business, but I'll express my view anyway ... I think the concept of a President of Europe is not one that appeals to me ... as an individual I had a great respect for Blair. I found him intelligent, I got on very well with him and the whole time he was Prime Minister of Great Britain I was Prime Minister of Australia."

By John Terrett in Business on October 16th, 2009
Photo by Getty Images

Ask most people what they were doing a year ago today and they wouldn't remember, but I'll bet former U.S. President George Bush does.

He was explaining his government’s plan to spend billions of U.S. tax payer dollars to prop-up some of Wall Street's biggest banks; it was a massive investment - nationalisation by any other name.

It was deeply embarrassing for the head of a country and political party built on free enterprise, and he looked most uncomfortable as he said:

"This new capital will help healthy banks continue making loans to businesses and consumers and this new capital will help struggling banks to fill the hole created by losses during the financial crisis."

Now, one year on and the banks are making money – lots of it.

By Rob Reynolds in Americas on October 9th, 2009
Photo by Getty Images

The stunning decision by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to give its annual award to President Barack Obama shows just how starved the world is for constructive, positive U.S. leadership. Obama has redirected the immense power of this country from unilateral, bullying, jingoistic militarism to multilateral engagement.

Lots of people around the world - from Hugo Chavez to the oh-so-sophisticated anti-American elites that populate the chic drawing rooms in Hampstead and Islington and editorial conference rooms in London, Paris and (occasionally) Washington - sneer at the very idea of American leadership. However, many leaders and people around the world fervently do want to have an America that is a partner, a helper, and yes, a leader.

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