China Ambassador’s American Tale

Staff / Truthdig Mar 10, 2011 President Obama nominated Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American commerce secretary, to be the next US ambassador to arguably the most important country in the world Locke's grandfather, who left China to work in Washington state as a servant paid in English lessons, would be proud, but then (more). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Russia Puts Adoptions by Americans on Hold

Staff / Truthdig Apr 15, 2010 Following last week's diplomatically embarrassing -- and for the child in question, no doubt traumatizing -- fiasco involving a 7-year-old Russian boy whose adoptive American mom returned him to Moscow alone a year after bringing him to the States (continued). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

After 95 Years, Sweden Calls Killing of Armenians Genocide

Staff / Truthdig Mar 12, 2010 The Swedish parliament took a vote Thursday on an important wording issue, and the end result led to diplomatic strain between Sweden and Turkey. That's because the word that parliament members decided on was genocide, and the incident they were applying it to was the mass killing of Armenians in Turkey in 1915. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

And Commerce Secretary Goes to …

Staff / Truthdig Dec 3, 2008 Bearded political renaissance man and current governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson was picked Wednesday morning to be Barack Obama's secretary of commerce. The unsurprising move makes Richardson the latest politician drafted by Team Obama, who point to Richardson's experience at the U.N., as governor, and as energy secretary. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pakistan PM: U.S. Airstrikes ‘Intolerable’

Staff / Truthdig Nov 20, 2008 American airstrikes in Pakistan aren't sitting so well with the locals Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani summoned the US ambassador for a refresher course in "sovereignty and territorial integrity" on Thursday But according to The Washington Post, the two countries have a tacit agreement that the U can keep bombing Pakistan if Pakistan can keep complaining about it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Six Held at Guantanamo After Plot Claim Is Dropped

Robert Fisk / Truthdig Nov 2, 2008 In the dying days of the Bush administration, yet another presidential claim in the "war on terror" has been proved false by the withdrawal of the main charge against six Algerians held without trial for nearly seven years at Guantanamo prison camp. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bolivia Puts DEA on Hold

Staff / Truthdig Nov 2, 2008 Bolivian President Evo Morales on Saturday made another move to signal his administration's displeasure with the United States, announcing that he is "indefinitely" halting all activities of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency within his country. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Attack on U.S. Embassy in Yemen

Staff / Truthdig Sep 17, 2008 An attack on the US Embassy in Yemen killed 16 Wednesday, though it failed to breach the inner walls of the building complex The act, which has been claimed by the group Islamic Jihad, is probably a response to both an internal Yemeni crackdown against insurgent groups and the U global "war on terror". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘¡Adios, Ambassador!’ Say Chavez and Morales

Staff / Truthdig Sep 12, 2008 Two Latin American leaders, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Bolivia's Evo Morales, expelled the U.S. ambassadors to their nations after claiming that the American embassies in both countries were supporting rebel groups aimed at toppling their governments. Salvador Allende and Jacobo Arbenz were unavailable for comment. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A No-No in Europe Is Just Ducky in the Mideast

Staff / Truthdig Aug 14, 2008 John Stewart says it's the "geopolitical equivalent of the fortune cookie [plus] 'in bed' ": U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalizad (above) trashing Russia's aggression but limiting comparison to the Iraq invasion by adding a qualifier that tells us we're talking about someplace that matters to civilized people. Follow-up questions for extra credit: Is Georgia really in Europe? And how many Americans are worried right now the Russians will take Atlanta? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iran Condemns Clinton

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2008 If Hillary Clinton becomes the next president, her administration will have a hell of a time improving relations with Iran, a country that has a few cards to play when it comes to stability in Iraq and the price of oil. That's because Clinton recently threatened Iran's annihilation and it turns out that the Iranian government pays attention to these things. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Petraeus and Crocker Show

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2008 Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, President Bush's preferred spokesmen for his Iraq policy, found themselves in the middle of the presidential campaign Tuesday as they testified before two Senate committees on which candidates sit. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )