Independent Diplomat
Former British diplomat, founder of Independent Diplomat, and Associate Fellow with the British think tank Chatham House
PROFILE
Carne Ross
Guest
FROM Carne Ross
To the Point
Palestinians Seize the World Stage To a standing ovation from the General Assembly, PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas applied for full Palestinian membership in the United Nations today. On the streets of Ramallah, rapturous crowds waved flags and cheered a speech that attacked Israel as an occupying power defiant of UN resolutions. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu , in turn, attacked "militant Islam" and said peace will not be achieved by UN resolutions but only by negotiations between the parties. Will today's actions renew the peace process? What are the implications for American diplomacy in the Middle East?
To the Point
New Faces, Old Issues at the UN President Bush and Iran's President Ahmadinejad were both in the General Assembly chamber this morning as the UN began its 62 nd session . Ahmadinejad will speak later today. President Bush told the General Assembly that the US will increase sanctions against the repressive military government of Myanmar—or Burma. He said nothing about the Iraq war and barely mentioned Iran, but he also said he'd consider enlarging the UN Security Council, possibly to make Japan a permanent member. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of South Korea opened today's session , his first as the UN leader. As the world body meets for the 62 nd time, will new leaders from Europe and a new Secretary General make a difference? Is the UN living up to its founding expectations?
Recommended
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?