An interview with Uribe and trouble for Ahmadinejad

If you haven't noticed, I love Foreign Policy magazine (just check the archives). They have great, insightful, and well written articles. This time isn't an exception.

There's two interesting articles up. One is an interview with former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on his current role and ideas in Colombian political life and long-term goals. The other is an analysis on a recent blunder by Ahmadinejad in Iran.

I really liked the Uribe interview, I thought his answers were spot on, and his ideals are just what Colombia needs in order to develop its democracy. Whenever you can change an entire country's mood from pessimistic to optimistic, you know you've done something right.

Hitting the Nail on the Head

Daniel Kliman, a visiting fellow from the Center for a New American Security recently wrote an opinion piece for CNN. I think his piece hits the proverbial nail on the head.

To be a good leader in the 21st century, you need to multi-task. Canceling a trip to Latin American AGAIN would have been devastating for very important relations and economic deals. No longer can the U.S. ignore Latin America; they are a growing presence and strategic interest on the international scene. The president should be given more credit in shoring up our relationships with certain Latin American countries. He is demonstrating priorities, and I believe he's chosen the right ones.

Here is the opinion piece.