James Morrison
Articles by James Morrison
Embassy Row: Russia reset again
The U.S. ambassador to Russia insists that Washington and Moscow are actually quite close, despite the news media's focus on their bitter disputes. Published March 5, 2013
Embassy Row: Iran buying time
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren accused Iran of deceiving the West by opening new talks about its suspected nuclear weapons program, as he addressed a major Jewish conference in Washington on Sunday. Published March 3, 2013
Embassy Row: ‘Half-true’ stories
Raymond Flynn, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, is blasting the mainstream media for "sensational half-true stories" about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the conclave of cardinals that will pick the Roman Catholic Church's new pontiff. Published February 28, 2013
Embassy row: Thank you, Canada
Ben Affleck finally thanked Canada, and the Canadian ambassador portrayed in the Oscar-winning movie "Argo" is satisfied. Published February 26, 2013
Embassy Row: Kerry to meet with Russian FM as adoption issue looms
The first meeting between John F. Kerry as the new secretary of state and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov could be dominated this week by the emotional issue of Americans adopting Russian children, after an explosive exchange between Russian lawmakers and the U.S. ambassador in Moscow. Published February 25, 2013
Embassy Row: Make peace with the past
The U.S. ambassador to Egypt was alarmed as she watched Egyptians mark the second anniversary of the ouster of an autocratic leader with riots in the streets against the new Islamist-led government. Published February 14, 2013
Embassy Row: Bad marriage?
The former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, who resigned abruptly last year, is calling for Washington and Islamabad to break the "tyranny of negative narratives" and wage a stronger fight against terrorism and corruption in the strategic but unstable South Asian nation. Published February 12, 2013
Embassy Row: Cold-blooded murder
Former top U.S. officials denounced the State Department, the United Nations and Iraq for failing to protect unarmed Iranian dissidents in a camp near Baghdad and blamed Iran for a weekend rocket attack that killed six refugees and wounded 50. Published February 10, 2013
Embassy Row: Dinner with Esther Coopersmith
Diplomats, with the exalted titles of "excellency and plenipotentiary," do not really learn the ways of Washington until they have dinner with Esther Coppersmith. Published February 7, 2013
Embassy Row: Worried in Zimbabwe
The U.S. ambassador in Zimbabwe fears the troubled southern African nation will face another stolen election this year because the ruling party appears to have no desire to allow a free and fair vote. Published February 3, 2013
Embassy Row: Mission accomplished
The deputy prime minister of Hungary, Tibor Navracsics, left Washington this week confident that he made progress is dispelling charges that his country hates minorities, represses journalists and manipulates the judicial system. Published January 31, 2013
Embassy Row: Ideological ‘maniacs’
The embattled former ambassador from Pakistan cited threats from "ideologically driven maniacs" as he defied his country's highest court this week by refusing to return home for a hearing into a complex case involving accusations of treason and a shadowy figure who claims the ex-envoy was part of a political conspiracy. Published January 29, 2013
Embassy Row: Ambassdor to Zimbabwe left speechless by nearly naked lady
The U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe intended to deliver a few remarks at a local library, but he was left speechless by a nearly naked lady. Published January 28, 2013
Embassy Row: ‘Perpetual war’
Pakistan complained this week to U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson about reports that President Obama plans to increase drone strikes against terrorist targets, which the foreign minister condemned as "counterproductive" and other lawmakers denounced as a violation of national sovereignty. Published January 24, 2013
Embassy Row: Lost opportunity
The U.S. ambassador in Moscow, Michael A. McFaul, warned Tuesday that the ban on Americans adopting Russian children will cripple the Kremlin's ability to track the progress of tens of thousands of youngsters already placed with U.S. families. Published January 22, 2013
Embassy Row: Dangerous duty for Pakistan’s ambassador
Serving as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States is risky business, as the country's former envoy noted after hearing about the legal threat against the current ambassador. Published January 21, 2013
Embassy Row: Threat to Iran
An Iranian dissident group long accused of terrorism by the United States remains the most serious threat to Iran's brutal, theocratic regime, a U.S. report says — even though the group's armed wing surrendered its weapons 10 years ago and now is confined to a refugee camp in Iraq. Published January 17, 2013
Embassy Row: ‘Sovereignty lost’
Michael Lothian, a Conservative party member of Britain's House of Lords, sees a fundamental contradiction in the European Union's demand for more power, which is always masked under the benign-sounding rubric of "shared sovereignty" among the 27 member nations. Published January 15, 2013
Embassy Row: ‘Better together’
Seven hundred years after a vastly outnumbered Scottish army under legendary King Robert the Bruce defeated the English in a battle for Scottish independence, Scotland next year will again tackle the issue of separating from England. Published January 13, 2013
Advocates urge White House to press Turkey on human rights
International human rights advocates are urging President Obama to press Turkey's prime minister to respect democracy and publicly oppose his efforts to restrict free speech and other civil liberties. Published January 11, 2013
