Rupert Cornwell

Known for his commentary on international relations and US politics, Rupert Cornwell also contributes obituaries and occasionally even a column for the sports pages.

With The Independent since its launch in 1986, he was the paper's first Moscow correspondent - covering the collapse of the Soviet Union – during which time he won two British Press Awards. Previously a foreign correspondent for the Financial Times and Reuters, he has also been a diplomatic correspondent, leader writer and columnist, and has served as Washington bureau editor. In 1983 he published God's Banker, about Roberto Calvi, the Italian banker found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a new picture, reportedly taken by the International Red Cross, which purports to show him at Guantanamo Bay

Rupert Cornwell: Obama will be on trial with the 9/11 accused

Out of America: President's decision could rebound. US courts are not used to defendants who've been tortured.

Recently by Rupert Cornwell

Rupert Cornwell: Burden of sending men to their deaths is starting to show

Friday, 13 November 2009

George Bush, famously, followed his gut instincts – and took the US into a misbegotten war in Iraq. His successor, on the other hand, prefers to take his time and think a problem through. Alas, it would seem that the more Barack Obama thinks about Afghanistan, the more intractable the problem becomes.