Category Archives: Regimes

Andrew L. Urban Donald Trump is mistaken in thinking that moderating peace in Ukraine is a matter of striking a deal. His deal-ism doesn’t really cater for that situation, an illegitimate invasion of a sovereign state by a foreign power. … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban Violated but not rescinded, the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 was signed by the leaders of the US, UK, Russia and Ukraine. It promises the sort of security guarantees that Ukraine seeks and that are being contemplated now … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban Australia’s Anthony Albanese leads his government “decisively away from America, geostrategically, militarily, politically, culturally,” as The Australian’s Paul Kelley writes, but also morally. I would argue that other western nations once relied on to provide the moral … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban History is a tough teacher. Learn and win or ignore and fail. Our track record as humans is rather poor. More failures than wins. And here comes the next big test: it’s set for August 15, 2025 … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban What could prompt anyone to suggest that Australia’s current government attitude to Israel is “cowardice dressed in the robes of diplomacy”? It’s more like belligerent antisemitism dressed in the robes of belligerent antisemitism. It’s visible in the … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban As Trump and Putin spend over an hour on the phone today (Feb. 13 as I write) to talk potential peace, I wish I could have listened in. And interrupted … Putin makes a big deal complaining … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban Neighbours from all over gathered after a violent house invasion and wrung their hands. There were 90 of them. They tut-tutted. Shook their heads in disapproval. The invaders were refusing to leave, so the neighbours spoke of … Continue reading →

Andrew L. Urban Q: What do Succession star Brian Cox and Australia’s filmmaker Nadia Tass, of Malcolm* and Amy* fame, have in common? A: Oleg Vidov. Cox narrates Tass’ 97 minute documentary about the late Oleg Borisovich Vidov (1943-2017), once … Continue reading →