archives :: Europe
schadenfreude (but in moderation)
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder share a tender moment at the 60th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings, 6 June 2004. [read more]
childhood's end
Too tired to write tonight (well, this morning, now). So instead I'll share an image saved from the Spectator (UK) a couple of years ago. Perhaps I won't be alone in finding it both poignant and haunting. (Click for larger)... [read more]
intrigue
My thesis from last night—to wit, that Giuliana Sgrena's increasingly fantastic accounts of her encounter with US troops are aimed not so much at the United States as they are at Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi—remains speculative. It is what I... [read more]
red and black (redux)
[Earlier posts on this subject are here and here.] Last fall, 60s radical turned neocon David Horowitz published Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left. One of the better reviews of the book was by Joshua Kurlantzick, in the... [read more]
hardball
Even within the conservative punditocracy, President Bush's diplomatic tour of Europe last week received mixed marks. At NRO on Friday, Denis Boyles pronounced the President's efforts charmless; in the next column over, Larry Kudlow judged the trip a smashing success.... [read more]
in with the new
Europe, that is. Viktor Yushchenko became Ukraine's president Sunday and vowed to overturn its post-Soviet legacy by seeking a place in Europe for the people he led in a peaceful revolt against a rigged election and pressure from Russia. Watched... [read more]
out of many, many
For European federalists, 2005 is going to be a very long year (via Brothers Judd). Opinion polls suggest that Britain, which will hold its referendum in March 2006, is the most likely to reject the constitution, followed by Poland, the... [read more]
Ukraine looks West
As expected, Viktor Yushchenko has won the (latest) presidential election in Ukraine. [I]nternational observers praised the conduct of Sunday's re-run vote, held after the second round was annulled over ballot-rigging. With nearly all votes counted, Mr Yushchenko has an eight-point... [read more]
Russia and Ukraine, II
Several days back, reader TomBombadil posted a few questions which led to an unplanned Russia Week here at andúnië.net. I all but exhausted my knowledge of the subject here. Master Bombadil then followed up with a veritable essay of his... [read more]
the headless horseman of the Near Abroad
Ever noticed how NY Timesmen are suckers for strained metaphors? In these long winter nights, a headless horseman is roaming Russia's “near abroad,” threatening independent countries and raising fears of a renewed cold war. This specter is Vladimir Putin. Let's... [read more]
Russia and Ukraine
It's safe to assume that now, and for the forseeable future, Vladimir Putin is Russia. He remains wildly popular at home—even after a string of terror attacks that, had they occurred here, might well have gotten the Bush Administration voted out for incompetence. [read more]
solidarnosc
My favorite image thus far of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution comes via the PostModern Clog: Which, I suppose, requires a bit of context. Back in 1982 I was a fresh-faced high schooler who, although certainly more aware of world events... [read more]
context and subtext
That's Mark Steyn (who else?) in London's Sunday Telegraph—proving once again that the British press is nothing if not unrestrained. But perhaps our own should be so honest. Consider this NYT column from the same day: Can History Save the Democrats? [read more]
don't tread on me
The image above comes courtesy Gerard Van der Leun, who notes that there may be more to this month's naval “exercises” than meets the eye. As a seafaring friend of mine once remarked, an aircraft carrier is not really... [read more]
physics is phun
Had I known that this kind of research could have been part of my job description, perhaps I would have stayed in physics. The European Constitution is unscientific, will not achieve the objective of “one person one vote”, and will... [read more]
red and black
A few days ago, I wrote this cheery passage: The Left—both domestic and international—is already making common cause with Islamists. It is only a matter of time before some in those camps decide to cement that alignment with more than... [read more]
news from the old country
Diplomacy makes for odd bedfellows. British PM Tony Blair has been the most stalwart of allies, yet is determined to further integrate his country into the EU—a process that will without doubt erode Britain's national sovereignty while simultaneously rendering the... [read more]
not your pappy's Eire
St. Patrick's Day is almost over. I've had my token bottle of Harp to celebrate. (And to get me through income taxes. Yeesh.) I've been to Ireland once, in 1989. If you've never been there—or if your last visit was... [read more]
hoist the black flag
Evidence of Islamist involvement has grown steadily. Yesterday's El Pais reported that an Arabic document found on the internet suggested that al-Qa'eda was planning an attack before the elections. Spain was identified as “a weak link” in the US-led coalition... [read more]
socialists take Spain
But the immediate impact is this: terrorists have brought down a government in spectacular fashion. Our allies are in greater danger now than before. [read more]
Madrid, 12 March 2004
Remember when we were this united? It seems that mass murder is the only thing that can bring about such accord. Human nature sucks that way. MADRID (Reuters) - Chanting “Cowards” and “Killers,” millions of protestors packed rainswept streets across... [read more]
breaking: al Qaeda claims responsibility
DUBAI (Reuters) - A letter purporting to come from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network claimed responsibility for the train bombings in Spain on Thursday, calling them strikes against “crusaders,” a London-based Arabic newspaper said. “We have succeeded in infiltrating... [read more]
news of the world
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Two Dutch political parties called Wednesday for laws prohibiting sex with animals after a man suspected of having sex with a pony was set free. [read more]
the travails of Giscard d'Estaing
Somewhat lost in the news of Saddam's capture was last weekend's other big story: the collapse of the EU constitutional convention. The leaders of 25 current and future members of the European Union failed to reach agreement on Saturday on... [read more]
if this is a religious war
…as so many Muslims clearly see it, then the Christian West is unilaterally disarming: Headwear in France, notices on libraries in Buckinghamshire: they speak of a permanent alteration in the way that Europeans must live. Moreover, other changes, unrelated to... [read more]
so who are these people?
Amir Taheri gives the rundown on the groups behind this week's planned protests in London. The coalition has a steering committee of 33 members. Of these, 18 come from various hard left groups: Communists, Trotskyites, Maoists, and Castrists. Three others... [read more]
Scotland forever!
Or, yet more evidence that the EU bureaucracy is a burgeoning menace: Officials from Europe have backed down over a decision to classify the kilt as “womenswear” on official forms. The questionnaires, sent to Scottish firms by EU statistical agency... [read more]
this will be interesting
And not in a good way, I fear. British ex-pat Andrew Sullivan excerpts a letter from an American ex-pat in London, on the welcoming committee for President Bush's trip there next week: The BBC is working the country into a... [read more]
schadenfreude
Glenn Reynolds points out this story on how Valery Giscard d'Estaing's draft EU constitution is being received by the masses. Seems that the man who fancies himself as Europe's Jefferson may be in for a rude awakening: Support for the... [read more]
