John Lyman
John Lyman is the Editor-in-Chief of International Policy Digest (IPD). John completed a Master of Arts in European Studies in 2008 from the University in Amsterdam, graduating Cum Laude. In 2010 John completed a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University. He wrote his thesis on Dutch water management and how their lessons could be applied to the United States in the face of global climate change. John completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science also from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006 before moving to the Netherlands to complete his M.A.
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The Resumption of Business as Usual Between Pakistan and the U.S.
May 17, 2012 by John Lyman
The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. is one of the most important and contentious in the world. Illustrating its complexity, Pakistan is expected to shortly announce that it is reopening Afghan supply lines through its border, which were closed following the NATO raid last year that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Are ‘Good-Faith Assurances’ with the Chinese Enough?
May 5, 2012 by John Lyman
By all accounts, Chen Guangcheng was prepared to resettle in the United States following years of run-ins with Chinese authorities. Chen Guangcheng’s reversal from seeking asylum, to an expressed desire to remain in China and ultimately to plea for help from the U.S. State Department, including a choreographed phone call to a congressional hearing, have created a diplomatic headache for the Obama administration.
The Obama Administration Defends the use of Armed Drones
May 3, 2012 by John Lyman
Set against the backdrop of events marking the one year anniversary of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin-Laden, the Obama administration has for the first time formally acknowledged its use of drone missile strikes that have proven effective in decimating Al-Qaeda’s ranks as well as killing other high value targets in Yemen, Pakistan and elsewhere. Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington on April 30th, John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, affirmed, “the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al-Qaeda terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft, often referred to publicly as drones.”
Romney’s Foreign Policy and Russia
March 30, 2012 by John Lyman
Obama’s recently concluded trip to South Korea to liaise with world leaders to address nuclear security and the Iranian nuclear saga went according to schedule, until an “open mic” caught Obama making rather casual comments to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stating he believed he would have more flexibility to address lingering issues related to nuclear arms reduction after the November election.
Review: Managing Country Risk
March 18, 2012 by John Lyman
The world is full of risks. Whether an average citizen on the streets in Cairo or a CEO of a Fortune 500 country, the international system is a dynamic place, which is often defined by risk. “Managing Country Risk”, by Daniel Wagner who has had years of experience in cross-border risk management, is a “must have ready” reference and reality guide for any trader, investor, lender or NGO considering any cross-border activity.
The GOP’s Ménage à Trois Continues
March 14, 2012 by John Lyman
The Alabama and Mississippi GOP voters delivered their verdicts on Tuesday. While GOP voters sort of like Rick Santorum, they really don’t like Newt Gingrich nor Mitt Romney, and they consider Ron Paul a fringe candidate. Mitt Romney is still the favorite to secure the nomination having a sizeable lead in delegates.
Following Shooting in Afghanistan, Overall Question is Whether the Mission is Doable
March 12, 2012 by John Lyman
The shooting of 16 Afghan civilians on Sunday by a U.S. soldier and the Koran burning on the Bagram air base several weeks ago have American officials questioning whether these two events will make it next to impossible for coalition forces to carry through with the mission as planned until 2014, when the U.S. is expected to leave Afghanistan.
Netanyahu’s and Obama’s Unsavory Choices on Iran
March 8, 2012 by John Lyman
Whether Iran’s goal is ultimately to produce a nuclear weapon is unknown, but as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said last weekend during his meetings in Washington, if is looks, walks and talks like a duck, it is usually a duck. He also asked a simple question – Would Iran be producing its missile program simply to place medical isotopes on top of their missiles? At least one world leader is asking the right questions and looking this issue squarely in the face.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar Ratchet Up Pressure on Assad
March 3, 2012 by John Lyman
Running counter to the wishes of the United States and other western nations, Saudi Arabia and Qatar recently announced that they are taking steps to arm the Free Syria Army (FSA). Despite the significance of this step, it is unlikely to shift the civil war in favor of the rebels. The FSA, armed with light weapons, suffered a number of strategic setbacks. Their tactical retreat from the Baba Amr neighborhood in Homs paints a picture of a rebel group that lacks the operational capacity to challenge the Assad regime directly.
Rick Santorum riles the Dutch
February 25, 2012 by John Lyman
Republican presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, who has been known to garner a fair bit of criticism from liberals, pro-choice groups and moderates, has now apparently riled the otherwise docile Dutch citizenry. I had several occasions to visit the Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis hospital in the western part of Amsterdam while I attended graduate school at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 2008.
Can Romney make a credible pivot to the center?
February 22, 2012 by John Lyman
To secure the GOP nomination, former Gov. Mitt Romney has had to make a hard shift to the right to convince social, economic and foreign policy conservatives that he’s their guy and can be trusted to uphold their values in the general election against President Obama. The shift has been transparent and increasingly awkward for a politician who many consider to be personally awkward.
A review of Foreign Policy Association’s ‘After the Arab Spring’
January 12, 2012 by John Lyman
I had the opportunity to watch, “After the Arab Spring”, a joint project between Foreign Policy Association and PBS, before it airs next month on PBS stations. It’s available on YouTube if you get the opportunity to watch it. “After the Arab Spring” begins with a perfunctory introduction of how the status quo in Arab and North African states was “upended” by the largely peaceful Arab Spring, which has stagnated among promises of elections and reforms.
Obama stresses a renewed focus on Asia-Pacific
January 5, 2012 by John Lyman
President Obama, in a rare appearance at the Pentagon on Thursday, flanked by his military commanders and defense secretary, stressed the need to curtail some spending at the Pentagon while shifting America’s focus to the Asia Pacific region. Besides the president, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made remarks.
Running on Anger
January 2, 2012 by John Lyman
It is assumed that Ron Paul cannot win the presidency, and this may not necessarily be his ultimate goal. Paul’s message, during floor speeches in the well of the U.S. House of Representatives, on his many Sunday morning talk show appearances, in his newsletters and books, or through Paul’s previous two presidential campaigns, has been to inject his worldview on Americans and into the political discourse.
The Internal Debate over Israel’s Identity
December 30, 2011 by John Lyman
Protests between secular and ultra-Orthodox Israelis centered in the town of Beit Shemesh, Israel have shed light on a trend line. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, and reported by The Jerusalem Post, the population of Israel, including the occupied territories is 7,836,000 million, of which, 5,901,000 are Jews.
