The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Foreign Affairs
Among other affiliations, the U.S. is a member of “The Quad,” an informal, Indo-Pacific Alliance with Australia, India and Japan. “We believe in a free and open Indo-Pacific, because we know that’s what delivers a strong, stable and prosperous region,” stated Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. A key part of such stability, of course, is dealing together with autocratic China and its military maneuvering and coercive economic practices.
Speaking of “The Quad,” its notable non-member is France, which still considers itself a Pacific player and is America’s oldest ally. They are still displeased–well, angered and insulted–that it lost that multi-billion-dollar deal to sell submarines to Australia. And we know President Emmanuel Macron felt blindsided and even called his ambassador home from Washington in protest. But what would Charles de Gaulle say? Probably “Sacre Bleu, *&#$@*&! Anglo-Saxons!”
Taliban’s hands-off policy: Amputations are back in Afghanistan. “Cutting off hands is very necessary for security,” explained, so to speak, Nooruddin Turabi, a Taliban founder