Stories International Relations from March, 2008

Iraq at 5: The World Reacts

  March 19, 2008

Today, March 19, marks five years of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Initially a plan to oust Saddam Hussein and “end the war before it started,” the war in Iraq continues to this day, much to the dismay of many ordinary citizens around the globe. In that vein, Global Voices Online will...

For African bloggers, the campaign has taken its toll

  March 17, 2008

For African bloggers checking in on the Democratic race, long gone are the pithy remarks about Clinton and Obama and the hopeful interest in U.S. presidential politics. A certain new tone has entered into the fray: Perhaps it’s irritability or defiance. If I had to pick an adjective to tag these posts, I’d label them as “partisan.” You are either for us or against us; it’s as simple as that, writes John Liebhardt in this review of African blogs.

Filipino bloggers compare US and Philippines politics

  March 14, 2008

Lauded as America’s democratic model in Asia, it is then of no surprise that the Philippines is keeping a close eye on the race to the White House. It may even be insightful to say that when it comes to politics, the Philippines – a former colony of the superpower - is just like the US. Even as politicians change, the system remains very much the same; the voting participation is quite the same; ideological views (and their marginalization) are the same; and the structure of government itself is the same.

China: We need a consistent and pro-trade US president

  March 8, 2008

Trade and politics are inseparable. John Kennedy digs into the Chinese blogosphere to bring us the latest reactions to Obama's stance on the North America Free Trade Agreement, the US Primaries, and which candidate Chinese bloggers are rooting for and why.

Peru: Bloggers Provide Thoughts on U.S. Elections

  March 7, 2008

The primary elections in the United States has aroused interest all over the world. Peruvian blogs are not foreign to that interest and are concerned with the subject in many ways, such as simple references, casual commenting, analysis of the situation or just by reproducing things that have appeared on the web. In this post, Juan Arellano sums up some of the original content he was able to find online.

Morocco: Much Ado About Hussein

Barack Obama has been challenged by the American right for several reasons - refusing to put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem, for attending an Islamic school as a child, and for being born to a Muslim father. Now he is under attack for his middle name - Hussein, a name made famous by Iraq's former leader, Saddam Hussein.