Despite dramatic trans-Atlantic summitry, past peace deals were never quick

Despite dramatic trans-Atlantic summitry, past peace deals were never quick

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 20, 2025 The landmark political Summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, set in the geographical majesty of Alaska, offered the opening scenes to what could be the long-sought path to peace in Ukraine. Yet few genuine diplomatic observers presumed a political deal could […]

Nuclear power Pakistan scrambles to secure its border from newly-empowered Taliban

Nuclear power Pakistan scrambles to secure its border from newly-empowered Taliban

FPI / April 30, 2025 Geostrategy-Direct Pakistan, a country of 255 million people that has nuclear weapons, is facing a major problem at its border with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s version of the CIA, the ISI, has reportedly been riddled with Taliban assets for years while China has increasingly replaced the United States as its strategic partner. […]

Taliban’s dark rule in failed state Afghanistan: Opium prices soar, women lose rights

Taliban’s dark rule in failed state Afghanistan: Opium prices soar, women lose rights

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, March 16, 2025 The darkening rule of the Taliban regime over Afghanistan continues to dim prospects for Women’s rights as well as any chances for the war-torn country to overcome an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. Currently more than 50 percent of the population, some 23 million people in this […]

Flashback: America has paid dearly for its emperor with no clothes

Flashback: America has paid dearly for its emperor with no clothes

Special to WorldTribune.com Has this column, penned two-and-a-half years ago, stood the test of time? Was Joe Biden’s legacy already in focus back then? Following are excerpts of the original: By John McNabb June 13, 2022 Today we have a president, Joe Biden, who is both a multimillionaire, a guy who can’t lead the country […]

Henry Kissinger and the post-Vietnam War legacy of U.S. military defeat

Henry Kissinger and the post-Vietnam War legacy of U.S. military defeat

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, May 23, 2023 The following by WorldTribune.com columnist Don Kirk, originally appeared in The Hill. The defeat of the American-equipped, American-advised South Vietnamese forces in the first four months of 1975 invites comparisons to today’s American support for Ukraine against Russian invasion. In contrast to the approval of vast amounts of aid provided thus […]

A Veterans Day speech in Weaverville, NC and politics

A Veterans Day speech in Weaverville, NC and politics

Special to WorldTribune.com By John McNabb On this past Veterans Day a certain Air Force Maj. Gen. Rick Deveraux (Ret.) embarrassed himself, probably yet again, with his Veterans Day remarks in Weaverville, North Carolina. He told patriots in attendance the following: Military service members do not pledge allegiance to the flag but take an oath […]

What is AUKUS and why are the Chinese, the North Koreans and the French all so upset?

What is AUKUS and why are the Chinese, the North Koreans and the French all so upset?

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The acronym AUKUS, when you try to pronounce it, sounds like some weird wild animal, an AUKUS. The initials stand for Australia, U.K., U.S., but to the North Koreans and their Chinese masters,they might as well spell the exotic name of one of those strange beasts that only inhabits […]

‘What if’ questions: Nov. 22, 1963, Sept. 11, 2001 and right now

‘What if’ questions: Nov. 22, 1963, Sept. 11, 2001 and right now

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Millions remember exactly what they were doing when first hearing about awful events. The day John F. Kennedy was shot, November 22, 1963, I’d been sleeping after an overnight shift for a newspaper in New York. For some reason, I had to call about paying a parking ticket. The […]

After Afghanistan, a nightmare scenario for South Korea

After Afghanistan, a nightmare scenario for South Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk This nightmare scenario comes to mind: the Chinese have invaded South Korea in the name of the North Koreans, who are sort of an auxiliary force, and the wobbly, weak-kneed American president decides the South Koreans can fight on their own with no American troops, no U.S. air or […]

Afghanistan: Politics trumped competence

Afghanistan: Politics trumped competence

Special to WorldTribune.com By John McNabb The Afghanistan nightmare has just begun. Americans I know, love and respect have one question: How could this be happening in late August 2021? I have some insights based on personal experiences after my combat flying tours during the Vietnam War. But first we must look to the desk […]