Morning Brief: Bush, Lieberman promote McCain
Top Story Alex Wong/Getty Images The Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul began in earnest Tuesday night, with an array of political luminaries testifying to John McCain’s character and his fitness to be commander in chief. President George W. Bush, speaking from the White House, called the Arizona senator “an independent man who thinks for himself,” ...
Top Story
Top Story
The Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul began in earnest Tuesday night, with an array of political luminaries testifying to John McCain’s character and his fitness to be commander in chief.
President George W. Bush, speaking from the White House, called the Arizona senator “an independent man who thinks for himself,” adding, “If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain’s resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry left never will.”
Former Sen. Fred Thompson told McCain’s life story and criticized the media “feeding frenzy” over would-be Vice-President Sarah Palin, saying, “Some Washington pundits and media big shots are in a frenzy over the selection of a woman who has actually governed rather than just talked a good game on the Washington talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit.” Republicans at the convention have rallied to Palin’s defense in response to growing criticism of her record.
But the star of the evening was Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who, explaining why an “independent Democrat” and former vice presidential nominee supports McCain, said, “Because country matters more than party.”
Global Economy
$100 oil is within sight, but crude’s downward slide could prompt OPEC to cut production quotas.
Americas
Argentina is promising to pay back nearly $7 billion in debt.
Huge areas of the Canadian ice shelf are breaking up, alarming scientists.
Asia
Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani is unhurt after an assassination attempt.
Pakistan claims it narrowly missed killing al Qaeda No.2 Ayman al-Zawahiri.
North Korea is reassembling its Yongbyon reactor, Kyodo News reports. The U.N., meanwhile, is boosting food aid to the Hermit Kingdom.
Middle East and Africa
U.S. troops could leave Baghdad as early as next July, Gen. David Petraeus told the Financial Times.
Abu Dhabi is pouring money into the Hollwood film business.
A plane carrying U.N. aid workers and staff has crashed in Congo.
Europe and the Caucasus
The Bush administration plans to announce a $1 billion aid package for Georgia.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is a “political corpse,” according to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Russia’s foreign minister plans to visit Poland next week. Expect fireworks.
Ukraine’s pro-Western coalition is collapsing.
Today’s Agenda
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting Syria.
Peace talks begin in Cyprus.
U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney lands in Azerbaijan.
Palin speaks tonight at the Republican convention.
More from Foreign Policy
At Long Last, the Foreign Service Gets the Netflix Treatment
Keri Russell gets Drexel furniture but no Senate confirmation hearing.
How Macron Is Blocking EU Strategy on Russia and China
As a strategic consensus emerges in Europe, France is in the way.
What the Bush-Obama China Memos Reveal
Newly declassified documents contain important lessons for U.S. China policy.
Russia’s Boom Business Goes Bust
Moscow’s arms exports have fallen to levels not seen since the Soviet Union’s collapse.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
