The Current Discussion: Are the U.S. and Europe right to recognize Kosovo and continue to poke Russia with a stick?

The independence of Kosovo, quickly recognized by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, is worse than a crime. It is a political mistake. Here are five reasons why:

First, it alienates Serbia, already in a fragile balance between the hopes of becoming a European Union member and the bloody dreams of a Greater Serbia. Did you see the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade burning? A new pro-western government has withdrawn its ambassadors from the most important European capitals just days after winning the elections with a pro-European approach. Serbs can picture themselves knocking on Brussels’ gates but getting their doors slammed into their faces.

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The Current Discussion: With the U.S. presidential primary season in full swing, there's a lot of talk here about "change" vs. "competence" in leadership. Which does your country have more of? Is that a good thing?

Back in 1982, Felipe González obtained a landslide victory using the key word "Cambio" (change). He was the first socialist elected in Spain since the Popular Front in 1936. Obviously, he and his party didn't have any government experience at all, apart from some leftist mayors elected just one year before. Indeed, he had listened to what most of the Spaniard citizens wanted and built a programme based on change.

González stayed in power until 1996. The new conservative leader, José María Aznar raised the flag of "democratic regeneration". With his new breath of fresh air he confronted a socialist record of many achievements, several forgotten promises and some severe corruption cases.

Blair was the New Labour after the Thatcher years. Her liberal reforms injected competence into the British economy but the working class was fed up and need a social change.

Sarkozy proclaimed J' ai changé (I' ve changed) in a fundamental speech launching his campaign in January 2007. He set aside his years in various gaullist cabinets even if he was considered a very competent Home Office minister. Instead, he introduces himself as the man needed to change France after years of frozen ideas. He suceded.

From my distant point of view, Obama’s “change” is the correct answer to eight years of Bushism and the economic turmoil ahead. Hillary’s “experience” is not welcome, at least in the primary season. She has made a mistake in timing. In 2008, competence may be a Republican word.

As America's new president, you must consider yourself a leader not just of the U.S. but also of the rest of the world.

So, first, try to understand the rest of the world. Don't be afraid to travel, to listen and to discuss with others before taking any decision that affects us. No more Iraqs, please.

We citizens of rest of the world do appreciate American leaders with personal ideas. But we fear those who are held hostage by frozen ideology.

Who ever said that Hugo Chávez was a leftist? He is a mix of Fidel Castro and Perón: not a true revolutionary, but the promoter of a nanny-state paid for by the petro-dollar. A military man who organized a failed coup and, once in power, formed civil militias. A vain caudillo immersed in anti-American rhetoric.

Left-wing leaders like Lula da Silva in Brazil and Michele Bachelet in Chile are trying to transform their countries. They are true reformers who are bringing real alternatives to the liberal approach, some successful, others not. Their citizens are called to vote, choose and sanction the running of the country in free elections held under the careful watch of a free press.

Chavez came to power after decades of social democratic and demi-Christian governments that had taken turns, not in ruling Venezuela but in sacking public funds. Chavez initially found a positive response, especially among the poor, by presenting himself as the alternative to the old caste. Until last Sunday's referendum, there was no authentic opposition to him. Survivors of the old system were unable to regain popularity.

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Seen from the lens of 2007, the partition of British India seems like a big mistake. Back in 1947, it forced a two-way migration of 10 million people, while half a million more died as victims of racial and religious hatred. Since then, Pakistan and India have fought several wars and their rivalry has escalated to the brink of nuclear attack. Both countries are now living a cold war based on atomic deterrence.

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Summer is the perfect season to read "In Europe," an original, fresh and first hand documented essay of recent European history. It's an ideal reading for anyone doing "le grand tour" across the Old Continent. Euro-skeptics should read it as well to confirm that European unification is one of the few ideas in our recent history not made of blood, shame or tears.

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What a good boy Tony is! After 10 years, he has waited until his last days at Downing Street to vent his rage at the press. His spin doctors, commanded by Alistair Campbell, used to charm the press as young lovers flirt. Now the outgoing prime minister thinks that the media should be subject to some form of external regulation. What do you mean by external regulation, Mr. Blair? A new soft way to control these “feral beasts tearing people and reputations to bits,” he might say. Remember David Kelly? Who cared about reputation when it came to him?

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First, a question. Why is Russia in the G8? It is far from being a consolidated democracy where press freedom and other liberties are fully guaranteed. It is even farther from being a fully developed economy, with Putin’s domestic support based on high oil and gas prices more than on much-needed reforms. If Russia merits association with the rich, India, Brazil and Spain do as well.

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I was seated in a Paris restaurant where no bottle under 40 euros was included on the wine list – my third attempt at dinner on Monday night – when the PostGlobal question reached my mobile phone. I asked myself, decline? What decline?

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After four years hunkered down in Iraq, the United States is thinking about leaving in a hurry. The British stayed there for decades without becoming overwhelmed by so many problems. Who exactly wants out? Are Americans just nowhere near as prepared as Europeans to endure war?

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