br00t4c (@br00t4c@mastodon.social)

552K Posts, 3.21K Following, 3.07K Followers · More machine than man at this point. 24/7/365 stream of news and vitriol from a mostly leftist/progressive perspective. News feed is algorithmic. Commentary is me. I *try* to answer in a timely manner...

Radio Broadcast (1939-09-03) "Fireside Chat" - Roosevelt, Franklin Delano | WIST Quotations

When peace has been broken anywhere, the peace of countries everywhere is in danger.

"No Virtue in Meek Conformity" (1952) - Jacobs, Jane | WIST Quotations

I do not think military readiness, in itself, will defeat Communism. I do not think we can consider the job finished with that. I think it buys us time to do the bigger job. We must demonstrate that it is possible to overcome poverty, misery and...

Lithuania vs. China: A Baltic Minnow Defies a Rising Superpower

Lithuania has enraged China by advising officials to scrap Chinese phones that it says contain censorship software, while cozying up to Taiwan and quitting a Chinese-led regional forum.

Opinion | Biden, You Should Be Aware That Your Submarine Deal Has Costs

As experts hail the AUKUS agreement, the Biden administration should ensure it does not reflect a self-defeating concept of great power competition.

Talk of Iraq Recognizing Israel Prompts Threats of Arrest or Death

A conference promoting normalization, organized by a little-known American group, prompted a furor, pointing to the volatility and danger in Iraqi politics.

Australia Took On China. Did It Get It Right?

The country is wrestling with the political and economic consequences of its sharp turn in policy and tone — including an erosion of tolerance.

Opinion | Angela Merkel Was Underestimated, and It Became Her Superpower

Her 16-year reign is evidence that effective politics doesn't require losing your humanity.

Can Macron Lead the European Union After Merkel Retires?

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, would love to fill the German chancellor’s shoes. But a Europe with no single, central figure may be more likely.

For India’s Military, a Juggling Act on Two Hostile Fronts

Tensions with China and Pakistan stretch a cash-starved military, while the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban removes a potential ally.

France, Striving for Global Power, Still Struggles to Get It

Though often seen as vanity or pique, France’s assertiveness abroad is calibrated to manage a quandary it has faced since World War II: how to act as an independent power while depending on allies.

Australia’s Submarines Make Waves in Asia Long Before They Go to Sea

Some nations fear an accelerated arms buildup in a region where larger countries have already ramped up their military spending or capabilities.

Australia’s Submarines Make Waves in Asia Long Before They Go to Sea

Some nations fear an accelerated arms buildup in a region where larger countries have already ramped up their military spending or capabilities.

Macron Takes on U.S., a Big Gamble Even for a Bold Risk-Taker

For President Emmanuel Macron of France, a debacle over a lost submarine deal with Australia suggests that the NATO alliance is debilitated through lack of trust.

Furious Over Sub Deal, France Recalls Ambassadors to U.S. and Australia

It is the first time in the long history of the French-U.S. alliance that a top diplomat has been recalled, illustrating the depth of France’s anger.

Merkel Leaves the German Economy With Trouble Under the Hood

Chancellor Angela Merkel steered Europe through crises, and Germany has boomed during her tenure. But she has ducked changes needed to ensure the success lasts, analysts say.

In Submarine Deal With Australia, U.S. Counters China but Enrages France

The reaction signals a widening rift among Western allies over China. French officials accused President Biden of acting like his predecessor.

Why Australia Bet the House on Lasting American Power in Asia

Less than three years ago, Australia’s leader said his country need not choose between the U.S. and China. A nuclear submarine deal shows that much has changed since then.

Why Australia Bet the House on Lasting American Power in Asia

Less than three years ago, Australia’s leader said his country need not choose between the U.S. and China. A nuclear submarine deal shows that much has changed since then.

Despite Covid Risks, Many Leaders Plan to Attend U.N. General Assembly

Unlike the annual meeting last year, conducted almost entirely virtually because of pandemic restrictions, the United Nations is expecting leaders from at least 83 countries to speak in person.