Favorite Every empire needs a scary external threat, led by a singular menacing villain, to justify its massive military expenditures, consolidation of authoritarian powers, and endless wars. For the five decades after the end of World War II, Moscow played this role perfectly. But the fall of Soviet Union meant, at least for a while,…
All posts tagged United Kingdom
Líder da oposição britânica é acusado de ser “colaborador” da Rússia por criticar avanço militarista
Favorite O líder do Partido Trabalhista do Reino Unido, Jeremy Corbyn, defendeu a redução das tensões entre a OTAN e a Rússia, e acrescentou em uma entrevista para a BBC na quinta-feira: “Gostaria de ver uma desmilitarização da fronteira entre os dois”. Assim como os EUA, o Reino Unido vem aumentando sua presença militar na…
Jeremy Corbyn Accused of Being Russian “Collaborator” for Questioning NATO Troop Build-Up on Border
Favorite The leader of the U.K.’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, called for a “de-escalation” of tensions between NATO and Russia, adding in a BBC interview on Thursday: “I want to see a de-militarization of the border between them.” Along with the U.S., the U.K. has been rapidly building up its military presence in the Baltic region,…
Did Rupert Murdoch Choose Britain’s New Prime Minister?
Favorite When Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Monday that he would be moving out of 10 Downing Street quite a bit sooner than planned, not in September, but on Wednesday — leaving the house, the office, and the cat to his successor, Theresa May — the abrupt end to his lame duck tenure seemed…
Andrea Leadsom’s Campaign to Lead Britain Might Foster Fear of Islam, Leak Suggests
Favorite The race to be the next leader of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, and hence prime minister of the United Kingdom, was whittled down to two candidates on Thursday: Theresa May, the home secretary, and Andrea Leadsom, deputy energy minister. As the two lawmakers with the most support from their colleagues, they will now spend…
Brexit is Only the Latest Proof of the Insularity and Failure of Western Establishment Institutions
Favorite The decision by UK voters to leave the EU is such a glaring repudiation of the wisdom and relevance of elite political and media institutions that – for once – their failures have become a prominent part of the storyline. Media reaction to the Brexit vote falls into two general categories: (1) earnest, candid attempts to understand what motivated voters to…
British Exit From EU Not Inevitable, Despite Referendum
Favorite In the first hours after the British public voted to exit the European Union, amid all sorts of triumphal statements and recriminations, one declaration was notably absent: the formal notification to the EU that the United Kingdom intends to leave the organization, which is required to start the clock on negotiations for a departure.…
Brexit Vote Could Unravel Not Just the European Union, but the United Kingdom Too
Favorite As it became clear, early Friday morning, that Britons had voted to leave the European Union, a far-right nationalist politician, Nigel Farage, told cheering supporters that the goal of his once-fringe United Kingdom Independence Party had finally been met. “Let June 23rd go down in history as our independence day.” @Nigel_Farage speaks with Leave…
Why the Brexit Campaign Is Obsessed With Nazis and Hates Facts
Favorite In the last, frantic days of campaigning before Britons vote in a referendum on Thursday to decide if they will remain in the European Union or leave, there seem to be Nazis everywhere — at least, that is, in the imaginations and rhetoric of those dreaming of a British exit. The tone was set…
Far-Right Britain First Party Tries to Avoid Blame for Lawmaker’s Assassination
Favorite One day after a British lawmaker, Jo Cox, was assassinated by a constituent with a history of mental illness and support for white nationalist groups, who reportedly shouted “Britain First!” during the attack, the leaders of a fringe political party with that slogan for its name tried to dissociate themselves from the suspect by spreading…