Julian Assange, charismatic leader of Wikileaks, desperate fugitive from Swedish justice and now the latest member of Interpol’s Most Wanted List, has been sleeping on an air mattress in an office at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since June 19. Today, he emerged onto a balcony (which is, technically, in Ecuador) above the street outside… Continue reading Welcome to the Hotel Ecuador, Mr. Assange
Tag: international affairs
Teddy Bears Invade Belarus, Lukashenko Retaliates
My final consultation on Friday wasn’t in my office, it was at the Rwandan Embassy on New Hampshire Avenue. After two and a half hours discussing strategies for dealing with Congolese coltan smugglers, I had worked up a decent cocktail hour thirst, so I decided to stroll over to Lilies Bar in the Carlyle Hotel… Continue reading Teddy Bears Invade Belarus, Lukashenko Retaliates
Pakistan President Zardari Yodels for Immunity
Last night, I stopped by the Round Robin Bar for a drink or two after work. There I found Shaughnessy, of the State Department Pakistan Desk, drinking – well, drinking like an Irishman trying to drown his sorrows, actually. “Things at Foggy Bottom getting to you?” I inquired as I took a seat on the… Continue reading Pakistan President Zardari Yodels for Immunity
Assange, Assad, Manning, Wikileaks, VEPCO, PEPCO – and Nuts
Friday of last week, two million people in the Washington DC metro area lost electrical power. As I write this, eight days later, half a million still have none. Oh, and by the way, the temperature every day in between has been around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the ambient, dry-bulb, actual temperature, not including humidity.… Continue reading Assange, Assad, Manning, Wikileaks, VEPCO, PEPCO – and Nuts
Fast and Furious Firearms of Phoenix Found Fallacious
Early this week, Lemont from DOJ called and asked Gretchen to block out two fifteen minute blanks bracketing a consultation on Friday. I have received similar requests on occasion in the past, but usually from foreign diplomats, highly secretive captains of industry, or members of the US intelligence community. I bill them for the dead… Continue reading Fast and Furious Firearms of Phoenix Found Fallacious