Alvaro Rodriguez

The latest on the ceasefire that so far isn't and the choices to come...and a decision making process that lacks process, expertise, rigor, and people willing to save a president from himself. open.substack.com/pub/richardhaa…

PM Carney responds to Trump's threat to Iran's civilization: "Canada expects all parties in this conflict to respect international laws, the rules of engagement and that means not targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure and we urge all parties in this war to follow those responsibilities."

Pope Leo's Easter message: "Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!"

“With everything we do, we are undercutting the laws of war,” says former NSC official Gary Sick. At 91, he reflects, “I would never have believed that we would find ourselves in the position that we’re in, as the rogue nation in the world.”

I don't know what if anything Pres Trump will say about NATO tonight, but the damage is already done. The reliability at the core of this or any alliance is gone. Europeans no longer have confidence in the American pledge to come to their defense.

Addressing thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo said God “does not listen” to leaders who start wars and have “hands full of blood,” warning Jesus cannot be used to justify conflict. As the Iran war enters its second month, he renewed calls for a ceasefire.

Donald Trump called Barack Obama’s Syria “red line” reversal “a disaster.” But Obama’s red line flip-flop looks like the model of careful policymaking compared to Trump’s many about-faces during the Iran war. My take:

Today, the @UN General Assembly has adopted a landmark Resolution : A/80/L.48 entitled “Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity.” This Resolution marks a significant milestone in global discussions about historical injustices and human rights. The landslide vote is as follows: ➡️ 123 in favor of the Resolution, ➡️ 52 Abstentions and ➡️ 03 Against. Tabled by the #AfricanGroupUN and championed by Ghana 🇬🇭, this landmark Declaration affirms that the transatlantic slave trade and racialised chattel enslavement were crimes against humanity whose consequences endure to this day. Addressing the General Assembly, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭 , called on the world to stand on the right side of history and today, the world answered. This is a victory for Africa. For our ancestors. For the millions who suffered, and for the generations who carry this forward. The Decade of Action on Reparations has begun. #Agenda2063 #TheAfricaWeWant #ReparatoryJustice #UN80

When middle powers work together, we can do even more than protect ourselves and our sovereignty — we can build something better, more prosperous, and more just than what came before.

"I did not think it would come to this... it's a full blown crisis." Veteran US diplomat @RNicholasBurns tells me "there has to be an off ramp" in Iran, pointing to warnings from history in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Questions are mounting over the coherence of U.S. strategy. @ACMideast’s Nate Swanson tells me, “I don’t think we have a clue what our objective is at this point.” As CNN’s Stephen Collinson notes, Gulf allies are now being “thrust into a war” they largely did not want.

Eid Mubarak! Prime Minister Carney wishes everyone celebrating a blessed, healthy, and happy Eid al-Fitr. pm.gc.ca/en/news/statem…

The war in the Middle East must stop. Diplomacy must prevail. All Security Council resolutions must be implemented. The latest one, resolution 2817, must be respected, as we see that countries in the Gulf continue to be targeted.

The U.S. is succumbing to some of the same imperial temptations with Iran that Britain did with its missions in Asia in the 20th century, says CNN's Fareed Zakaria.

To Irish people and friends of Ireland, wherever you may be, happy Saint Patrick’s Day 🇮🇪 Do mhuintir na hÉireann agus do chairde na hÉireann pé áit a bhfuil sibh, Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh 🌍

“Trust in America [within] the alliance has been broken,” says fmr. NATO dep. commander Richard Shirreff. With allies so far refusing to get involved in the Strait of Hormuz, “I’m not surprised there is this real reluctance to dance to Trump’s tune,” Shirreff adds. “This is a war he started.”

The war with Iran has entered its third week, and Israel says it will last for at least another three. What is the strategy of Iran's new leadership? I spoke to @CarnegieEndow senior fellow @ksadjadpour and Lisa Anderson, dean emerita of @ColumbiaSIPA:

Pres Trump wants allies to join effort to open Strait of Hormuz, but as the saying goes, you have to bring them in on the takeoff if you want them there for the landing. it would also help if we had a viable operational plan.

“The wish fulfilment fantasy that somehow American bombs are going to result in homegrown democracy in the region has to be put to bed,” says Iranian-American scholar Reza Aslan. Instead, he sees “a consolidation of hardline power” in Iran, as US-Israeli bombing continues.

Today is Commonwealth Day! As one of the 56 member countries, Canada is part of a global community dedicated to promoting democracy, peace, human rights, and sustainable development. 🌍