David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
U.S. forges new alliances to prep for post-Afghan War reality in Central Asia
The Biden administration has announced plans for a new formal relationship with Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, the latest signs of geopolitical tug of war in the region in the wake of the U.S. and allied troop pullout from Afghanistan. Published July 16, 2021
Vive la France! Alireza Firouzja latest chess star to be given a Gallic welcome
France's Bastille Day, which we mark this week, celebrates the final days of a notorious royalist prison in 1789 that inmates were trying to escape from. Which for chessplayers is more than a bit ironic, as France ever since has represented a place to escape to. Published July 13, 2021
Rhetoric from ‘Free Iran’ summit strikes nerve, sparks regime’s ire
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a parade of former officials and current lawmakers from countries around the world told a mass virtual gathering of Iranian exiles over the weekend that the regime in Tehran was weak, illegitimate, incompetent and not long for this world. Published July 11, 2021
Kinzinger: U.S. military may have to return to Afghanistan
Departing American troops may soon have to return to Afghanistan as the security situation deteriorates and the Taliban step up their offensive against the U.S.-backed Kabul government, a key lawmaker said Sunday. Published July 11, 2021
Pope’s first public appearance closely scrutinized after surgery
Pope Francis on Sunday made his first public appearance after intestinal surgery last week, offering thanks for the prayers of the faithful. Published July 11, 2021
Pompeo calls for stepped-up pressure on ‘weak’ Iranian regime
Iran's theocratic government is at "its weakest point in its now 40 years of existence," former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a global virtual rally of exiled regime opponents Saturday, arguing that now is the time for the U.S. and its allies to increase pressure on hardline President-elect Ebrahim Raisi as he prepared to take office. Published July 10, 2021
Republicans and Democrats slated to join rally condemning Iran’s government
A bipartisan collection of key U.S. lawmakers, including the Republican leader in the House and the Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will be among those addressing a major online gathering this weekend of Iranian dissident exiles fiercely opposed to the theocratic regime in Tehran. Published July 9, 2021
Kerry to travel to Russia for climate talks amid bilateral tensions
John Kerry, President Biden's top adviser on climate issues, will travel to Moscow next week for meetings with senior Russian officials, the Kremlin confirmed Friday. Published July 9, 2021
Prodigy’s prodigious feat — Mishra becomes a chess grandmaster at 12
It was quick, but it wasn't easy. New Jersey prodigy Abhimanyu Mishra last week became the youngest grandmaster in history, earning a third and final norm for the game's highest honor at a tournament in Budapest. Published July 6, 2021
The Rating Game: Elo’s chess rankings prove their worth
Arpad Elo knew his stuff. The Hungarian American physicist in the 1950s and 1960s adapted and perfected a system to rate the strength of chessplayers, first for the U.S. and then for the world. The Elo rankings proved both revelatory and useful, allowing for better pairings at tournaments and much fairer class competitions. Published June 29, 2021
Carol Jarecki: From chess mom to one of the game’s greatest referees
John Jarecki had a brief but notable chess career in the 1980s, holding the record for a time as the youngest American player to earn the title of master. But as so often happens, Jarecki decided against the life of a full-time chess player and decided to pursue other career paths. But he would have a major impact on the game in an unexpected way -- through his mother, Carol Jarecki. Published June 22, 2021
Putin outpoints Biden in taking on the global press corps
In their willingness to face a free press in an unscripted, potentially hostile environment, score one surprising victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin over President Biden in their dueling press conferences following their one-day Geneva summit Wednesday. Published June 16, 2021
Anand’s heirs show future bright for Indian chess
India was not exactly a chess superpower when the great Viswanathan Anand burst on to the scene in the early 1980s. His storied career included a six-year reign as undisputed classical world champion starting in 2007. Known for his lightning-quick play as a youth, Anand also racked up a number of rapid and blitz world titles as well. Published June 15, 2021
Putin praises Trump, presses Biden for ‘stability’ ahead of summit
Former President Donald Trump is an "extraordinary, talented individual," President Biden is a "career man" in government, and Russia would appreciate a little more "stability and predictability" in U.S. foreign policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his first interview with an American broadcast outlet in three years. Published June 14, 2021
Ortega regime steps up crackdown of rivals ahead of Nicaragua vote
The government of leftist President Daniel Ortega, brushing off criticism from the U.S. and human rights groups, expanded its intimidation campaign against regime opponents ahead of November's elections, arresting a prominent opposition figure and surrounding the home of another government critic Sunday. Published June 13, 2021
Netanyahu ousted by single vote after 12 years as Israel’s prime minister
A coalition united solely by the proposition that Benjamin Netanyahu should not be prime minister took power in Israel, sending into opposition a figure who has dominated the country and the region for a dozen years. Published June 13, 2021
Biden, G-7 leaders mobilize to counter China’s ‘Belt and Road’ project
The leaders of the Group of Seven industrial democracies took aim Sunday at China's vast "Belt and Road" infrastructure program for the developing world. Published June 13, 2021
Biden defends shunning joint press conference with Putin
President Biden on Sunday defended his decision not to hold a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their one-day summit Wednesday in Switzerland. Published June 13, 2021
Biden hails ‘extraordinarily productive’ G-7 summit
President Biden claimed breakthroughs on a number of fronts as he wrapped up his first Group of Seven summit as president on Britain's Cornish seacoast, a gathering marked by normalcy and lower-volume diplomacy after the tumultuous Trump years. Published June 13, 2021
G-7 leaders endorse Biden push for global minimum tax for corporations
The Group of Seven nations has endorsed an international push to require companies to pay a minimum tax of 15% of their income, targeting multinational corporate giants that seek out low-tax havens. Published June 13, 2021
