United Kingdom

Schemes That Set the Desert on Fire

After WWI, Britain and France made the Arab world the object of history, not its subject. James Barr’s new book shows that the Middle East was born crazy. Later misunderstandings and manipulations were laid atop well-worn grooves.

ETA Gives Up Terrorism

The Basque separatist group has renounced terrorist operations. This is as close to a victory as counterterrorism gets.

A Lesson in Diplomacy

A look back at soft power in its prime.

The European Commission's Battle Against Britain

The commission is promoting its own welfare, not Europe's—and doing so at London's expense.

Once Upon a Time in Westphalia

It took Tony Blair one speech in 1999 to trap the Western world in an unending series of interventionist wars. We may care about the people of Tibet, Baghdad and Libya, but are we the knight-errant of the human race?

Why Negotiating with the Taliban Is a Really Bad Idea

The Taliban is no IRA. Diplomacy won't convince this prickly nemesis to magically disarm and deradicalize.

The End of David Cameron

Cameron will fall. Rebekah Brooks will play Judas. Scotland Yard will be brought to justice. The Murdoch debacle takes aim at the entire British establishment.

The Destruction of Rupert Murdoch and News Corp.

Britain's Watergate unfolds. And the embattled Cameron seems more than happy to let the media titan shoulder the blame.

Britain's Newspaper Scandal: Rupert Murdoch and News of the World

Even in a world that seems to have little power left to shock, the British tabloid's conduct is shocking.

Romancing the Throne

Dynastic survival. Diplomatic alliances. Religious supremacy. Ahh, the good old days of monarchical marriage. From the drunken George to the uppity Victoria, what was once the realm of high politics is now the domain of celebrity culture.

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February 13, 2012