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In the Human Interest – Mel Gurtov

In the Human Interest – Mel Gurtov

Critical appraisals of foreign affairs and politics from a global-citizen perspective

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27Mar 202627 Mar 2026
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Post #500: No Exit in Iran

A Hopeless US Proposal Donald Trump thinks a 15-point plan will end the war with Iran. Seems like a hope…

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22Mar 2026
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Post #499: Cuba is Trump’s Next Imperial Project

Another Nonexistent Threat Regime change in Cuba may be the next stop for the Trump war machine. Here’s what he…

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14Mar 202614 Mar 2026
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Post #498: Unexpected Gifts: Beijing and Moscow Gain from Trump’s War

I have previously commented about the strategic blunders the Trump regime has made in its war on Iran. Add this…

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ARTICLES

“Unpacking a US Decision to Engage North Korea”

16 Apr 201826 Jun 2018
A special report of 38 North, co-authored with Carla Freeman and available at https://www.38north.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/38-North-SR-1804_Freeman-Gurtov.pdf   From the report: "Understanding what North Korea really wants is essential because hope that progress toward denuclearization…
BLOG

Post #202: The Syrian Quandary

11 Apr 2018
Donald Trump’s threat of another missile attack—or any attack—on Syria cannot improve the rebels’ position on the ground, affect use of chemical weapons, change Russia’s and Iran’s policies, or alter…
APB

APB: A Dangerous Game of Chicken

6 Apr 20186 Apr 2018
As the “tit-for-tat” trade fight between the US and China escalates, Donald Trump is likely to find that he doesn’t “know China” the way he once thought.  When he said…
BLOG

Post #201: The Coming Crisis with Iran

3 Apr 20183 Apr 2018
With the appointments of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state and John Bolton as national security adviser, Donald Trump has signaled his preparedness by the May 12 deadline to withdraw…
BLOG

Post #200: A Blank Check for Repression? A Saudi Leader Visits Washington

21 Mar 201824 Mar 2018
It’s a classic narrative: the foreign dignitary of a US ally visits Washington, the Pentagon and State Department are intent on selling him a large weapons package, a munitions maker…
BLOG

Post #199: Trump’s War on the Environment—Part 2, Resistance and Innovation

12 Mar 201813 Mar 2018
(Note to readers: This is the second of a two-part commentary, continuing reporting of good and bad news on the environment that began with my very first blog in 2014.…
APB

Defying the Hawks on the Way to a Trump-Kim Summit

9 Mar 20189 Mar 2018
Donald Trump’s extraordinary decision to meet with Kim Jong-un has taken all the policy hawks by surprise—and led them to issue all kinds of warnings of impending disaster.  Trump’s decision…
BLOG

Post #198: Getting to “Yes” With North Korea

8 Mar 20187 Mar 2018
For the first time in quite a few years, direct US-North Korea dialogue seems within reach thanks to North-South Korea talks involving Kim Jong-un and top officials of the Moon…
BLOG

Post #197: Trump’s War on the Environment—Part 1, Ignorance and Greed

3 Mar 20182 Mar 2018
(Note to readers: This is the first of a two-part commentary, continuing reporting of good and bad news on the environment that began with my very first blog in 2014.…
APB

Is There a Trump-Russia Conspiracy?

19 Feb 201818 Feb 2018
Now that Russia’s interference in US politics since at least 2014 is “official” with Robert Mueller’s indictments—the evidence is “incontrovertible,” H. R. McMaster, the national security special assistant says—we need…
BLOG

Post #196: Was There Really a Breakthrough in US-North Korea Relations?

15 Feb 20182 Mar 2018
(Note: An updated, longer version of this blog is at https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/2018/0302/16170.html.) In the aftermath of the “Korean spring” at the Winter Games, some observers waxed euphoric over the potential for direct…
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ANNOUNCEMENT: My new book on Engagement

7 Feb 2018
     

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Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
wwmakers's avatarwwmakers on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
Russell White's avatarRussell White on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
larrykirsch's avatarlarrykirsch on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
bombless's avatarbombless on ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION

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Recent Posts

  • Post #500: No Exit in Iran
  • Post #499: Cuba is Trump’s Next Imperial Project
  • Post #498: Unexpected Gifts: Beijing and Moscow Gain from Trump’s War
  • ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION
  • Post #497: Aggression in Iran

Recent Comments

Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
wwmakers's avatarwwmakers on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
Russell White's avatarRussell White on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
larrykirsch's avatarlarrykirsch on Post #500: No Exit in Iran
bombless's avatarbombless on ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION

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Listen to my "Global Citizen" commentaries every Tuesday, 5:25 pm, on KBOO.fm (Portland area) and Wednesdays on KXCR.net (Florence, OR area). The Global Citizen International Digest of the week's news is on KBOO Thursdays at 5:30 pm and is also on SUBSTACK, free, via https://melgurtov.substack.com

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