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THE GUARDIANSouth Africa’s president calls Trump’s policy to offer refuge to white Afrikaners ‘racist’MAIL & GUARDIANMideast war: Global energy markets jitters and humanitarian crisis loom largeTHE INDEPENDENTExplosion at US embassy in Oslo ‘may have been linked to Middle East conflict’MAIL & GUARDIAN‘Silent Rebellion’ wins top honour at Joburg Film Festival 2026THE GUARDIANThree men deported by US file legal case against Eswatini over detentionTHE INDEPENDENTResidents warned to stay away from waterways as floods leave ‘crocs absolutely everywhere’THE GUARDIANLewis Hamilton sets sights on racing in an African grand prix before retiringTHE DIPLOMATThe US Strikes on Iran Are a Reminder to China: Power Is PowerTHE INDEPENDENTKuwait city tower erupts in flames as Iran launches new wave of strikes in the GulfTHE GUARDIANDescendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skullsTHE DIPLOMATChina Really Thinks It Is Just Defending ItselfBRASIL WIREMinister warns of 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sets sights on racing in an African grand prix before retiringTHE DIPLOMATThe US Strikes on Iran Are a Reminder to China: Power Is PowerTHE INDEPENDENTKuwait city tower erupts in flames as Iran launches new wave of strikes in the GulfTHE GUARDIANDescendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skullsTHE DIPLOMATChina Really Thinks It Is Just Defending ItselfBRASIL WIREMinister warns of “industrial-scale” organized disinformation campaign, hindering disaster effortsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEGas pipelines to EuropeLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe DRC's security-for-minerals bargainBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEChina's high-speed rail project taps the brakesLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEFruit and vegetable pickers' ratesTHE INDEPENDENTIran says it has chosen new supreme leader as new wave of strikes pound the GulfBRASIL WIRENathália Urban Presente!THE DIPLOMATSouth Korea and the Philippines Expand Ties in Nuclear Energy and Critical MineralsBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotTHE DIPLOMAT‘Like a Startled Crow’: The Precarious Life of Women Amid Myanmar’s PolycrisisTHE INDEPENDENT‘I’m trekking 500 miles in 60 days to reach the North Pole – and to show women they can do anything’MAIL & GUARDIANShe changed the world before they changed their mindsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe Little Prince and the marketing of innocenceMAIL & GUARDIANThe weight women carry and the stories we refuse to seeMAIL & GUARDIANMiddle Eastern tensions could test South Africa’s diversification strategyBRASIL WIREInside Brazil’s X Ban: How Elon Musk Started–and lost–a Fight With Brazil’s JudiciaryTHE DIPLOMATWhy China Is Closely Watching US Congressional Support for the Iran WarTHE GUARDIANWeight-loss jab could be made for $3 a month, study findsTHE GUARDIANSouth Africa’s president calls Trump’s policy to offer refuge to white Afrikaners ‘racist’MAIL & GUARDIANMideast war: Global energy markets jitters and humanitarian crisis loom largeTHE INDEPENDENTExplosion at US embassy in Oslo ‘may have been linked to Middle East conflict’MAIL & GUARDIAN‘Silent Rebellion’ wins top honour at Joburg Film Festival 2026THE GUARDIANThree men deported by US file legal case against Eswatini over detentionTHE INDEPENDENTResidents warned to stay away from waterways as floods leave ‘crocs absolutely everywhere’THE GUARDIANLewis Hamilton sets sights on racing in an African grand prix before retiringTHE DIPLOMATThe US Strikes on Iran Are a Reminder to China: Power Is PowerTHE INDEPENDENTKuwait city tower erupts in flames as Iran launches new wave of strikes in the GulfTHE GUARDIANDescendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skullsTHE DIPLOMATChina Really Thinks It Is Just Defending ItselfBRASIL WIREMinister warns of “industrial-scale” organized disinformation campaign, hindering disaster effortsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEGas pipelines to EuropeLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe DRC's security-for-minerals bargainBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEChina's high-speed rail project taps the brakesLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEFruit and vegetable pickers' ratesTHE INDEPENDENTIran says it has chosen new supreme leader as new wave of strikes pound the GulfBRASIL WIRENathália Urban Presente!THE DIPLOMATSouth Korea and the Philippines Expand Ties in Nuclear Energy and Critical MineralsBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotTHE DIPLOMAT‘Like a Startled Crow’: The Precarious Life of Women Amid Myanmar’s PolycrisisTHE INDEPENDENT‘I’m trekking 500 miles in 60 days to reach the North Pole – and to show women they can do anything’MAIL & GUARDIANShe changed the world before they changed their mindsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe Little Prince and the marketing of innocenceMAIL & GUARDIANThe weight women carry and the stories we refuse to seeMAIL & GUARDIANMiddle Eastern tensions could test South Africa’s diversification strategyBRASIL WIREInside Brazil’s X Ban: How Elon Musk Started–and lost–a Fight With Brazil’s JudiciaryTHE DIPLOMATWhy China Is Closely Watching US Congressional Support for the Iran WarTHE GUARDIANWeight-loss jab could be made for $3 a month, study findsTHE GUARDIANSouth Africa’s president calls Trump’s policy to offer refuge to white Afrikaners ‘racist’MAIL & GUARDIANMideast war: Global energy markets jitters and humanitarian crisis loom largeTHE INDEPENDENTExplosion at US embassy in Oslo ‘may have been linked to Middle East conflict’MAIL & GUARDIAN‘Silent Rebellion’ wins top honour at Joburg Film Festival 2026THE GUARDIANThree men deported by US file legal case against Eswatini over detentionTHE INDEPENDENTResidents warned to stay away from waterways as floods leave ‘crocs absolutely everywhere’THE GUARDIANLewis Hamilton sets sights on racing in an African grand prix before retiringTHE DIPLOMATThe US Strikes on Iran Are a Reminder to China: Power Is PowerTHE INDEPENDENTKuwait city tower erupts in flames as Iran launches new wave of strikes in the GulfTHE GUARDIANDescendants of Zimbabwe resistance heroes urge UK to locate looted skullsTHE DIPLOMATChina Really Thinks It Is Just Defending ItselfBRASIL WIREMinister warns of “industrial-scale” organized disinformation campaign, hindering disaster effortsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEGas pipelines to EuropeLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe DRC's security-for-minerals bargainBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEChina's high-speed rail project taps the brakesLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEFruit and vegetable pickers' ratesTHE INDEPENDENTIran says it has chosen new supreme leader as new wave of strikes pound the GulfBRASIL WIRENathália Urban Presente!THE DIPLOMATSouth Korea and the Philippines Expand Ties in Nuclear Energy and Critical MineralsBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotTHE DIPLOMAT‘Like a Startled Crow’: The Precarious Life of Women Amid Myanmar’s PolycrisisTHE INDEPENDENT‘I’m trekking 500 miles in 60 days to reach the North Pole – and to show women they can do anything’MAIL & GUARDIANShe changed the world before they changed their mindsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe Little Prince and the marketing of innocenceMAIL & GUARDIANThe weight women carry and the stories we refuse to seeMAIL & GUARDIANMiddle Eastern tensions could test South Africa’s diversification strategyBRASIL WIREInside Brazil’s X Ban: How Elon Musk Started–and lost–a Fight With Brazil’s JudiciaryTHE DIPLOMATWhy China Is Closely Watching US Congressional Support for the Iran WarTHE GUARDIANWeight-loss jab could be made for $3 a month, study finds
J. Michael Springmann

J. Michael Springmann

Former US Diplomat & Author

About

J. Michael Springmann served in the United States government at the Commerce Department and as a diplomat with the State Department's Foreign Service, with postings in Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia. His last assignment was with the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

He was the head of the American visa bureau in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 1987 to 1989. He left federal service and currently practices law in the Washington, DC area.

Springmann holds a JD from American University, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in international relations from Georgetown University and the Catholic University of America. In 2004, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee recognized him as one of its Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year.

He has been published in numerous foreign policy publications, including Covert Action Quarterly, Global Research, Foreign Policy Journal, and OpEdNews.

Credentials

  • State Department Foreign Service (Germany, India, Saudi Arabia)
  • Head of US Visa Bureau, Jeddah (1987-1989)
  • Bureau of Intelligence and Research
  • JD, American University
  • MA International Relations, Georgetown University
  • Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, ADC (2004)