Hello again! I started the blog in 2007; however, more than our fair share of a few technical glitches a few months ago -- some more serious than others -- and the editors opted to, essentially, start over. The older posts we can recover shall be reposted in due course. Next time, I'll hire an expert to [...]
Hostage Taking by Nation States, Crime Against Humanity
From the U.K. Guardian, 'Hostage diplomacy' behind Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's Kafkaesque ordeal' - "Jason Poblete, the lawyer that helped free the Lebanese businessman Nizar Zakka after four years in an Iranian jail, also argues governments should put hostage-taking top of the agenda, and simply say “until you release all hostages, we are not going to talk [...]
Washington Post: Iran has reinvented the hostage crisis, 40 years later
"What is lacking is not law or policy," said Jason Poblete, a Washington-based lawyer who has represented U.S. citizens held hostage abroad, including current and former hostages of the Iranian regime. "It's political will to make resolution of these cases a global priority among affected stakeholders." Read the entire story at The Washington Post.
RCP: Can Latinos Boost Trump’s Chances in Florida?
From Susan Crabtree at Real Clear Politics, a closer look at Florida politics and the potential impact of different voter blocs in the state: "At the Coral Gables Public Library voting site, scenes have resembled makeshift fiestas with cars flying Trump flags and horns honking while Latin music plays in the background. The music group [...]
The Dirty Secret Great Powers Wish Would go Away: Hostages in Iran
On March 17, 2016, Ms. Nazanin Ratcliffe, a U.K. national, traveled to Iran with her newborn baby girl, Gabriella, to visit her family and celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian new year. Close to four years later, she remains a hostage in Iran. Last week I spoke with Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband (and Gabriella's dad), who has [...]
Recent Case of Havana Syndrome Baffles Scientists, Cuba Regime Downplays
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study earlier this month purportedly documenting another case of Havana Syndrome, a Canadian tourist. A 69-year-old woman was returning from a vacation in the island gulag had to be treated at a hospital upon arrival in Canada. Her symptoms included neurological impairments similar to those suffered [...]
To Combat Human Trafficking by Cuba, Start by Restricting “Humanitarian-based” Trade with the Socialist Gulag
Besides exposing this malign activity, the United States should pressure all nations who sign contracts for Cuban medical workers to cancel the contracts and not sign new contracts.
