Michael GoldfarbMarch 16, 2012 14:28

Waffen SS commemoration in Riga, Latvia

1,500 take part in controversial annual march

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Monica Lowenberg, whose uncle was murdered in Riga by the Nazis, watches annual parade honoring Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS (photo courtesty of DefendingHistory.com) (Dovid Katz/Courtesy)

The Latvian capital has become one of the centers for the disturbing trend in much of the eastern borderlands of Europe for glorifying Nazi collaborators. The marches have become a flashpoint. 1,000 police lined the route the 1,500 Nazi nostalgics marched along.

Many locals regard the Latvian Legion of the Waffen-SS as freedom fighters, who fought the Soviet Union. Others regard the legion as Nazi collaborators.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 16, 2012 11:43

Archbishop of Canterbury resigns

Rowan Williams steps down amid controversies over ordination of gay bishops and homosexual marriages.

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More scholar than back-room politician, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned today. He will become Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge (Matthew Lloyd/AFP/Getty Images)

Archbishop Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, was the right man at the wrong time. An academic and much-lauded scholar, Williams became Archbishop 10 years ago. His greatest skills are in theological disquisition and as a conciliator.

Unfortunately, the 77 million Anglicans in his ministry are hopelessly divided over the issue of homosexuality. They don't want to be reconciled on the questions of whether gay men should become bishops or if gay marriage is possible within the Church. The issue overshadowed his time as the 104th Archbishop.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 16, 2012 09:26

Assad E-mails: the person they reveal

Psychiatrist explains how the Butcher of Homs can also be a lover of sentimental pop and country

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How can Bashar al-Assad, the man who sends tanks against women and children, be so fond of the most sentimental pop and country? (-/AFP/Getty Images)

Once again the Guardian has scooped the world. This time with a trove of e-mails purportedly written by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma, and others of their inner circle.

Today a new name was thrown into the mix, that of Assad's father-in-law, Fawaz Akhras, who is a cardiologist based in London.

Apparently over the last few months he has been offering fatherly advice to his son-in-law on how to spin the British press.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 16, 2012 08:06

Hungary's Orban takes on the EU

Hungarian Prime Minister discovers the joys of Brussels bashing

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivering his broadside against the EU yesterday in Budapest. (FERENC ISZA/AFP/Getty Images)

As I said in a post last week, the EU has already created something akin to the United States of Europe. Certainly this is true culturally. In America there is Washington-bashing. It's equivalent in Europe is Brussels-bashing.

Yesterday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hit out at Brussels with a rhetorical sledge-hammer.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 15, 2012 15:58

European court's judgment on "kettling"

Human rights tribunal backs British police use of controversial crowd-control tactic.

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Policedogs keep people inside the kettle at a G-20 protest in London in 2009. (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

Since the new era of anti-globalization/anti-capitalism protests hit Britain a decade ago, the police have used a method of crowd control called a "kettle." Basically protesters can go into an area, but then they cannot get out until the police deem the steam to have risen and dissipated through the spout. Or the police can allow a few out at a time.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 15, 2012 07:17

Obama and Cameron meeting: British pundits' take

Divergent views of Washington DC love-in

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British Prime Minister David Cameron seems a bit overcome by it all during last night's White House State Dinner. British pundits are keeping an eagle eye out for signs that Cameron is succumbing to proximity to the imperial power. (Alex Wong/AFP/Getty Images)

When British Prime Ministers visit American Presidents pithy analysis flows among the British punditocracy like West Coast wines at a State Dinner.

Most of this comment is focused on the current state of the most over-used cliche in British journalism: "the Special Relationship."

A lot of the speculation focuses on it's dangers: "Is it more "Fatal Attraction" than "Love, Actually?" asked Channel 4's veteran Washington correspondent Matt Frei.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 14, 2012 08:56

British unemployment up … again

President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have a lot of things on their agenda today, including the world economy. But I doubt the President will be so rude as to ask the PM about the latest unemployment figures in Britain.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 14, 2012 08:25

Goldman Sachs letter travels fast

Britain reacts to Greg Smith's very public resignation

this story is part of globalpost's continuing coverage of world business. for more visit our new business page.

By now you know about Greg Smith's astonishing public resignation from Goldman Sachs in the pages of The New York Times.

It has excited commentary here in Britain.

"A knee in the nuts," is how The Daily Telegraph's Iain Martin describes it.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 9, 2012 14:17

A British Arabist's Advice for Syrian rebels

Get your political act together and negotiate the end of the Assad regime

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Devastation in Homs is proof that Syrian rebels don't have the firepower to beat Syrian army, but they have other ways of removing the Assad regime. (-/AFP/Getty Images)

Chris Doyle runs an outfit called CAABU, the Council for Arab-British Understanding, and he knows the Syrian situation as thoroughly as anyone outside official channels in Britain does.

You can listen to a very interesting interview Doyle gave to Guardian blogger Haroon Siddique here (scroll down to 2:21 p.m.).

Michael GoldfarbMarch 9, 2012 13:32

Tensions between Italy and Britain over failed hostage rescue attempt

British raid in Nigeria led to deaths of two hostages held for more than nine months by Boko Haram

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Briton Chris McManus, who was killed yesterday in Nigeria when British Special Forces tried to rescue him from his captors. (-/AFP/Getty Images)

Success has many fathers, but failure?

Yesterday's failed attempt by British Special Forces to rescue a pair of British and Italian men held hostage by Nigeria's Islamist Boko Haram for the last nine months has led to diplomatic repercussions.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has expressed genuine anger at not being informed about the raid in advance. "The way the British government has behaved is quite inexplicable. To have failed to inform or consult Italy, with regard to a military action which could have such consequences," Napolitano said.