PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Europe's democracies are a strange lot. As the European Union, they are experts at economic soft power. Politically, they spend too much time bickering among themselves. Militarily, they almost completely lack political will. Thankfully, some are trying to bring it all together.

SOCHI, Russia, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- In Sochi, politics and corruption converge on history. Even during Soviet times Sochi was the "baksheesh capital" of the empire. Sochi epitomizes the good and bad of modern Russia. On this weekend, 1,000 journalists convened to discuss public policy, justice, corruption and the state of the planet.

RIGA, Latvia, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Latvia has been passed back and forth many times during history -- controlled by Germans, Poles, Swedes and finally Russians. Oskars Kastens, parliamentarian and until 2008 minister for social integration, represents a generation of youngish, competent and energetic Latvian politicians. Many Latvians are concerned about the direction of the new U.S. administration.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A world famous maestro; a former German news editor, the last Soviet foreign minister; the chief GDR spy; the son of a reform communist minister; and friends of mine, somehow all linked by the end of the Cold War. It will soon be 20 years since the fall of communism.

MALMO, Sweden, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. economic bailout is for the birds. Meanwhile, the United States continues to spend $16 billion per month -- $50,000 per minute -- in Iraq. I am an advocate for more troops and diplomacy. But public policy is ineffective when it is not financially efficient and sound. The savings would be better spent fostering public policy worldwide. Some suggestions.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, July 27 (UPI) -- It might be true. I take Bulgarians seriously. It could just as well be my Andy Warhol moment. On Friday, I opened my e-mail to Bulgarian press reports that I will be the next U.S. ambassador to Bugaria. Bulgarians are a tough and proud people with a grand history. They must start fighting corruption seriously.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, July 13 (UPI) -- They just won't go away. Twenty years after the fall of communism, much Central Europe’s economy, politics and judiciary is dominated by former Communists. It is a despicable legacy. But it might not be the worst of it.

BURY ST. EDMUNDS, England, June 19 (UPI) -- I lie on the sofa watching the student demonstrations in Iran, dozing in and out, recovering from food poisoning caught at a Heathrow hotel 37 hours earlier. I cannot help but make historical comparisons. It is the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and the 41st of the Prague Spring. How will governments and their leaders react if Iran implodes?

BUCHAREST, Romania, June 1 (UPI) -- My cigarette in hand, I glimpsed what I thought was a U.S. Army Combat Uniform. After security, I saw the first of them -- our sons and daughters. "Where are you being deployed?" I asked a specialist. "Afghanistan." "Thank you for your service. Be safe," I said. A wry nervous smile crossed his lips. "Thank you, sir." This was a fitting exit from the fifth Euro-Russian Forum, one of five forums I spoke at over five weeks from Istanbul, Ankara, Montgomery and Prague to Bucharest.