BU Now » International Relations

Experts available on WikiLeaks scandal

Jo Breiner — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:39:28 +0000

The following Boston University experts are available to give expert commentary and analysis on the current Wikileaks scandal:

Arthur Hulnick, International Relations professor; a 35-year veteran of the intelligence profession, mostly with the CIA

Contact 617-353-8978, ahulnick@bu.edu

Joseph Wippl, International Relations professor; a 30-year CIA veteran

Contact 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication; Expert on American politics; a regular contributor to Politico “The Arena”

Contact 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu

Robert Zelnick, Journalism professor; Former ABC News foreign correspondent

Contact 617-353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu

An analysis of President Obama’s Iraq Address

Jo Breiner — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:56:39 +0000

President Obama spoke from the Oval Office on Tuesday night declaring “it’s time to turn the page” on the seven-year combat mission in Iraq.

International Relations professor William Keylor gave his analysis of the president’s speech in an interview on NECN saying “This war is coming to an end not with a bang, but with a wimper.”

Contact William Keylor at 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

Alleged Russian espionage ring busted

Dick Taffe — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:40:27 +0000

The FBI arrested 11 people for allegedly spying for the Russians while living secret lives in American communities – from Washington, D.C., to Seattle – sent here years ago to infiltrate U.S. society and steal its secrets. It’s unclear what the alleged spies actually found. Two BU international relations professors, Arthur Hulnick and Joseph Wippl, are both long-time veterans of the CIA and quite familiar with the world of spies. They offer their thoughts on the big bust.

Hulnick: “The case demonstrates that the FBI is really good at uncovering such spy rings. I’m not sure what will happen to the Russians who have devoted so much time and effort to what appears to be a failed operation. I suspect the Russian government will deny that it is behind the operation.”

Wippl: “Unlike diplomats, none of the 11 has diplomatic immunity which would result in a PNG (Persona Non Grata) expulsion from the U.S. Without diplomatic immunity, they will be prosecuted in a U.S. court according to the charges brought against them.”

Contact Arthur Hulnick, 617-353-8978, hlnk@aol.com, or Joseph Wippl, 617-353-8992, jwippl@bu.edu

Top Israeli aid badmouth’s peace talks

Dick Taffe — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:46:31 +0000

Uzi Arad (r.), Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s national security adviser, says the outlook is bleak for U.S.-mediated Middle East peace talks. International relations and anthropology Professor Augustus Richard Norton, author of “Hezbollah: A Short History,” says the former Mossad agent’s comments offer a window into the strategic calculations of the Israeli government, calculations which continue to confound U.S. policy goals.

“Uzi Arad’s presence in the Israeli government illustrates an underlying contempt for U.S. interests.”

Contact Augustus Richard Norton, 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu

G-20 to deal with global recovery

Dick Taffe — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:02:32 +0000

Next week’s meeting of the Group of 20 industrial nations in Toronto will face competing efforts to deal with the fragile global economic recovery. International relations Professor Kevin Gallagher, currently a visiting professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, writes in a Financial Times commentary that developing a sovereign debt crisis management regime should be at the top of the G-20′s agenda.

“The overarching goal of such an effort should be to strike a single global standard for balanced and timely restructuring that satisfies the needs of creditors while enabling debtor nations the ability to recover and grow. This is where the G20 can make its mark.”

Contact Kevin Gallagher, 617-353-9348, kpg@bu.edu

Japan’s ruling party calls for austerity

Dick Taffe — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:10:14 +0000

The newly elected Japanese ruling Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Naoto Kan (l.) has pledged to rein that nation’s huge debt, the world’s largest, calling for drastic tax reform including a hiking the sales tax. Public opinion polls show Japanese citizens prepared for tax increases and budget cuts if they can reduce the risk of a Greek-style economic meltdown. International relations Professor Thomas Berger, an authority on East Asian political culture, says the contrast between the Japanese public and its willingness to sacrifice to solve economic problems and people in other advanced industrial countries — notably France — is striking.

“There are, of course, many challenges that lie ahead in the months to come. Still, while it may be too early to say it is ‘morning in Japan,’ there may be some glimmerings on the horizon.”

Contact Thomas Berger, 617-353-5351, tuberger@bu.edu

Israel eases Gaza blockade

Dick Taffe — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:43:12 +0000

Israel announced a relaxation of the 3-year-old blockade of Gaza, promising to ease the importation of some goods by land but not offering to lift its navel embargo. The move came weeks after Israeli commandos killed nine people on an aid flotilla trying to breach the blockade. International relations Professor Augustus Richard Norton, author of “Hezbollah: A Short History” and authority on Middle East politics, says if Israel was serious about improving the living conditions in Gaza, it would stop preventing the exports of agricultural goods and allow the strip’s simple manufacturing sector to resume making and selling everyday essentials.

“This latest decision is an arrogant in-your-face to the U.S. and other concerned members of the international community. Watch the U.S. government spokespersons’ reaction. If they commend Israel, then you may heavily discount Obama’s commitment to Middle East peacemaking.”

Contact Agustus Richard Norton, 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu

Panel to examine Gaza raid

Dick Taffe — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:04:09 +0000

In an effort to stave off calls for an international inquiry and international criticism, Israel’s cabinet approved a government-appointed commission with foreign participation to investigate the deadly commando raid last month on a flotilla bound for blockaded Gaza. But international relations Professor Augustus Richard Norton, author of “Hezbollah: A Short History,” says the proposed Israeli panel falls well short of impartiality and credulity.

“The board is charged to address the blockade’s legality, but it is noteworthy that the International Committee of the Red Cross, not an organization given to rash judgments, has already noted that Israel’s blockade of Gaza is a violation of the Geneva Convention.”

Contact Augustus Richard Norton, 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu

U.S., Jordan in nuke-power talks

Dick Taffe — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:55:57 +0000

The U.S. and Jordan, it’s closest Arab ally in the region, reportedly are negotiating a nuclear-cooperation agreement that would let American firms expert nuclear components and know-how to Jordan — but won’t allow Jordan to produce its own nuclear fuel. International relations Professor William Keylor, author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945,” says the deal must balance Jordan’s right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to produce its own fuel and the U.S. interest in not angering Israel or risk a Mideast arms race.

“The controversy will have to be resolved through compromise if the NPT is to retain its credibility and the Middle East is to be spared a headlong rush to develop national civilian nuclear industries.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

BU professor tells Congress

Dick Taffe — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:02:39 +0000

International relations Professor Augustus Richard Norton, a former U.N. peacekeeper in Lebanon and author of “Hezbollah: A Short History,” testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs about assessing the strength of Hezbollah. In his testimony, Norton made clear that Hezbollah remains a major influence in Lebanon because it’s the only military force see as capable of repelling the Israeli army.

“One key to reducing Hezbollah’s mass appeal may be to reduce the threat of war, rather than heighten it. So long as the threat prevails, Hezbollah will be a prime beneficiary.”

Contact Augustus Richard Norton, 617-353-7808, arn@bu.edu