I am tasked to prepare some ideas on the problems which may arise between civilian and military ‘cultures’ in trying to help fragile or failed states. See the Center for Global Development on the subject. The basic problem is that things are what they are. Fragile states are fragile, because […]
The BBC website picks up the musty tone of David Miliband’s recent speech on Europe in a headline which strongly suggests a direct quote from something or someone: Iran ‘must free UK Embassy staff’ The ensuing piece about an EU Foreign Ministers statement on the arrest by Iranian police of […]
A final thought on that David Miliband speech in Poland. It’s his use of the words ‘must’ and ‘need’. This is what he says the EU ‘must’ do. It must: adapt once again to the changing geopolitical context we face set itself a goal of creating a single, low-carbon, energy […]
A question is asked re my previous (peevious?) posting on the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Poland: On david’s grandfather, are you sure he fought with the red army? Are you referring to ralph’s father samuel? Good question. How do I know? I wasn’t there. But rummaging around through Google finds […]
My first thought on the Foreign Secretary’s Warsaw speech was that the opening ‘historic passages’ were clunky. This is what happens. The speechwriter is pretty familiar with the broad rhetorical lines of policy on EU issues. But knows nothing about Poland or the UK’s relations with it. So s/he does […]
That outstretched hand of US friendship to Iran to join the USA’s 4th of July celebrations round the world? The hand draws back. On the somewhat doubtful (in etiquette/protocol terms) basis that the Iranians have not replied to the invitations. When there is still some time to go before the receptions start? […]
An intriguing story (and a cross response) here. Basically, the USA has decided to press on with its new policy of inviting Iranian diplomats to the US 4th of July celebrations (US National Day equivalent) round the world, despite the grisly regime behaviour in Iran itself. As a gesture with a […]
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has visited Poland. Various Foreign Secretaries have swung through Poland for commemorative or other events. But straightforward bilateral visits by British Foreign Secretaries have been few and far between in recent years. None in my time from 2003-2007 (although Jack Straw took part in the […]
Remember this long lost posting and the earlier one linked there on rock music and diplomatic parlance? I was given David Gilmour’s Live in Gdansk for my birthday, and listening to it I was taken back a long way to Meddle: Super lyrics from Pink Floyd as they got into their […]
Sir Richard Dalton who served as HM Ambassador in Iran gives his view on the drama unfolding there: Despite how individuals may have voted – and notwithstanding brave acts of individual protest, such as resignations – the government apparatus, the parliament, the clergy, the commercial elite and most civil society […]
