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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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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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9Mar 2026
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ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION

China Inside and Out: Politics and Policies in a Turbulent World (Bloomsbury Academic). THIS BOOK OF FOCUSED READINGS AND DOCUMENTS…

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7Mar 2026
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Post #497: Aggression in Iran

Conduct that Defies Logic, Law, or Sound Purposes As the invasion of Iran grinds on and its boundaries expand, the…

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BLOG

Post #194: Dubious Partnership: The US and Saudi Arabia

18 Jan 201817 Jan 2018
In recent months Donald Trump has shown no hesitation to comment critically on political developments in Iran, Pakistan, Venezuela, and North Korea. He supported protests in Iran against “the brutal…
BLOG

Post #193: “Sunshine” Reemerges in Korea, But Will Trump Accept It?

6 Jan 20185 Jan 2018
The White House has said it has no objections to direct North-South Korea dialogue, which will start shortly thanks to a surprise invitation to President Moon Jae-in by Kim Jong-un.…
BLOG

Post #192: A Scenario of Planet Earth’s Survival: Far-out Thoughts at the New Year

1 Jan 2018
What does the future hold for our planet?  It is easy to prophesy doom: a nuclear war, irreversible climate change, hordes of dispossessed people converging on well-to-do cities, a contagion…
APB

With Friends Like These: The UN Vote on Jerusalem

26 Dec 201726 Dec 2017
An old saying is that people are judged by the company they keep. So, perhaps, are countries. Consider which few countries voted with the US (8) or abstained (35) in…
APB

Out of Control: Nikki Haley’s UN Rant

21 Dec 2017
When the Egyptian-drafted UN Security Council resolution calling for a reversal of Trump’s decision recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital passed by a 14-1 margin, Amb. Nikki Haley voted to…
APB

APB: An Unfortunate Revelation on Securing North Korean Nukes

18 Dec 201718 Dec 2017
Specialists on North Korea have cited many reasons over the years for why China cannot be relied on to stop the DPRK from continuing its nuclear and missile buildup.  The…
APB

APB: Momentum for Talks with North Korea?

13 Dec 2017
Possibly, just possibly, a new momentum for direct US-North Korea discussions is developing.  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson provided some of it when, in a talk at the Atlantic Council…
BLOG

Post #191: The Calculated Destruction of America’s Government

7 Dec 20176 Dec 2017
It is truly extraordinary: the still-new Trump administration keeps appointing people whose common priority is the destruction of the agency they head.  Their mission is therefore the opposite of their…
APB

Impeach Trump? Nancy Pelosi vs. Tom Steyer

26 Nov 2017
Note to Readers: The following letter to the editor was written by Larry Kirsch, an economist and good friend living in Portland, and me. The letter follows on Tom Steyer’s…
APB

APB: Some Recommended Reading and Viewing

21 Nov 201723 Nov 2017
Dear Readers: Here are 4 items I've added to the "RECOMMENDED" list (down the right side) on the website, with their links. Please take a look, and while you're there,…
BLOG

Post #190: Trump and Xi in Beijing: A Snapshot

19 Nov 201718 Nov 2017
Note to Readers: This post expands the previous APB.  It was published Nov. 17 in China-US Focus, https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/trump-and-xi-in-beijing-a-snapshot. Donald Trump gave Xi Jinping endorsements; Xi gave Trump face. Trump heaped praise…
BLOG

Post #189: Stop the Wars: Congress vs. the President

13 Nov 201710 Nov 2017
Who Makes War? As Donald Trump maintains a high-velocity assault on North Korea’s leader, its political system, and its weapons tests, members of Congress are reportedly getting increasingly agitated about…

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bombless's avatarbombless on ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION
Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #497: Aggression in Iran
Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #492: TACO Time or Wartim…
chiefbeardf273823bee's avatarchiefbeardf273823bee on Post #492: TACO Time or Wartim…
Unknown's avatarPortland State Unive… on Post #219: Is China a “Respons…

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  • Post #498: Unexpected Gifts: Beijing and Moscow Gain from Trump’s War
  • ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION
  • Post #497: Aggression in Iran
  • Post #496: War on Iran
  • Post #495: Trumped on Tariffs

Recent Comments

bombless's avatarbombless on ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW PUBLICATION
Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #497: Aggression in Iran
Mel Gurtov's avatarMel Gurtov on Post #492: TACO Time or Wartim…
chiefbeardf273823bee's avatarchiefbeardf273823bee on Post #492: TACO Time or Wartim…
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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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