While America’s attention has been focused on Iraq, it is easy to forget the month before we were concerned about Russian interventions in the Ukraine and

A Ukrainian military transport plane was shot down by separatists in eastern Ukraine Saturday, killing 49 service members in what has been reported as the highest death toll suffered by government forces in a single incident since the unrest began there months ago.

From

Poor Jen Psaki, the Spokeswoman for the State Department.

Her job is almost as difficult as newly resigned White House spokesman, Jay Carney.

Speaking to reporters recently, Ms. Psaki got a rise out of the crowd when she suggested Obama doesn’t give himself enough credit.

Here’s the video.

Transcript via News Busters…

(more…)

Hey, remember Journo-list? The Ezra Klein organized brigade of lefty bloggers and “journalists” who coordinated messaging in the 2008 campaign for Obama. Many of whom later were rewarded with perks such as meetings at the White House?

They have received promotions, and now are embedded in the mainstream and well-funded new media.

But...

In Manila yesterday, Fox News’ Ed Henry asked President Obama to explain the Obama doctrine.

As Obama faces increasing criticism from all sides regarding the efficacy of his foreign policy, he first scoffed at the question responding, “Well Ed, I doubt I’ll have time to lay out my entire foreign policy doctrine.”

The...

Welcome to the age of Hashtag Diplomacy.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, this is what it looks like:

The above tweet is U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki giving a thumbs-up to Ukraine.

It illustrates the State Department’s latest foreign policy str...

Adding to tensions between the U.S. and Russia over the situation in Ukraine, a Russian fighter jet made numerous close-range passes near a US Navy ship in the western Black Sea over the weekend.  The action came as Ukraine is confronting continuing conflicts with pro-Russian separatists that have recently escalated.

From Agence...

Last night, Jimmy Fallon on his “Tonight Show” featured a sketch that poked some fun both at Russian President Vladimir Putin and at President Obama (and a few others), in a mock phone call between Putin (played by Fallon) and Sarah Palin.

Fallon introduced the sketch by recalling Palin’s prediction that Russia...

First and foremost, let’s be clear, the Koch Brothers are not the monsters that Democrats have made them out to be. They’re not even hard right conservatives but libertarians who have given large donations to many causes even liberals like.

The reason the Kochs have been singled out by the left is...

Edward Snowden is the hero of those seeking to protect privacy of Americans.

He’s also certainly the hero of the Russian and Chinese military and intelligence services, who don’t exactly speak on camera.

The New York Times and Spiegel revealed, based on Snowden leaks, how the NSA managed to penetrate a Chinese computer equipment...

I have been very grateful for the media experience gained by being a contributor at Legal Insurrection and the Executive Producer for Canto Talk.

Professor Jacobson has been a big inspiration behind a project I have been working on and which is now ready to launch:  History Bytes.

The tagline of this new,...

Via Reuters:

President Vladimir Putin signed laws completing Russia’s annexation of Crimea on Friday, as investors took fright at a U.S. decision to slap sanctions on his inner circle of money men and security officials….

In a Kremlin ceremony shown live on state television, Putin signed a law on ratification of a treaty...

President Barack Obama on Thursday announced a new round of expanded sanctions in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.

The additional sanctions target 20 Russian officials and influential individuals, as well as a Russian bank, according to Obama’s statement and a list published by the Treasury Department.  These follow an initial round...

Face it, Obama has structured key portions of U.S. foreign policy on Vlad Putin playing nice.

Iran nukes? Check.
Syria chemical weapons and civil war? Check.
Egypt shifting allegiances? Check.
Nuclear arms treaty compliance? Check.
Central and Eastern Europe territorial integrity? Check.

On what key issues does Putin need Obama?

Yeah, now Vlad is threatening to leave the...

In response to the ongoing foreign policy crisis in Crimea, President Obama has imposed sanctions on eleven individuals from Russia and Ukraine. Reuters reported…

Obama imposes sanctions on 11 Russians, Ukrainians over Crimea

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday slapped sanctions on two top aides to President Vladimir Putin and nine other people...

Even as Crimea votes to break from Ukraine and join Russia, Scotland is preparing to vote “yes” or “no” on independence later this year.

On September 18, 2014, essentially everyone over the age of 16 living in Scotland will have the ability to vote whether or not Scotland should be an independent...

Following Sunday’s referendum vote in Crimea to break from Ukraine and join Russia, President Obama on Monday announced a series of new sanctions. (Video at end of this post).

From Reuters:

U.S. President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on 11 Russians and...