All Opinion
US must kill and capture terrorist leaders as soon as possible. It works.Killing or capturing leaders of terrorist groups increases the chances these groups will collapse. In spite of what some politicians see as short-term political and diplomatic costs, my findings suggest targeted killings are an effective counterterrorism strategy in the long run.
Four steps to success in Afghanistan Now that the United States has committed itself to Afghanistan for another 10 years, the most important policy Washington could adopt in Afghanistan is one that helps the Afghans effectively govern their country on their own. To have any hope for success, the US and Afghanistan must accomplish these four goals.
Bring back the American Dream? It鈥檚 not that hard.The problem isn't lack of knowledge on what to do, but partisan arguments that ignore common-sense consensus. America needs an activist government and individual responsibility. It needs immediate job creation, and over the long term, debt reduction and stronger families.
The threat to American democracy that Romney and Obama aren't talking aboutIt's called the civics gap. Only one-third of Americans can name all three branches of government. Education reform's focus on聽high-stakes testing has sidelined civics education.聽To save American democracy, Romney and Obama must discuss how to help schools educate engaged citizens.
Push in Congress to ban biofuels in military has big long-term costsThe US armed services is working hard to wean itself off of fossil fuels and foreign oil. Yet some in Congress, for short-term savings, want to ban them from purchasing biofuels. Cutting investments in long-term solutions like alternative fuel will cost America dearly in the future.
Bullied bus monitor: one cog in a broken machineBullied bus monitor Karen Klein had a responsibility to assert her authority. The takeaway for a child witnessing her passivity would be: 'If a grown-up can鈥檛 do anything to stop them, then I sure can鈥檛.' That simply isn鈥檛 true. School districts and parents must learn from this case.
Sandusky report: Penn State the institution was more important than individualsThe Louis Freeh report condemns Joe Paterno and others at Penn State for covering up allegations of sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky. Why did thoughtful adults turn a blind eye? They likely let their devotion to the institution take precedence over the suffering of individuals.
Ehud Olmert could be Israel's comeback kid 鈥� and make peace with PalestiniansAfter his acquittal from key corruption charges former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is well positioned as a comeback kid in Israeli politics.聽If Olmert does return, the political discussion in Israel is going to change, with renewed focus on the Palestinian question.
Five tough truths about US-China relations The more American and Chinese officials proclaim their innocent intentions toward each other, the deeper the level of mistrust they generate. Official candor on five key truths about US-China relations will likely contribute to a more mature bilateral relationship and could help halt a potential slide to conflict.
In Pennsylvania, the Rosa Parks of voter ID faces down GOP voter suppressionA Pennsylvania court will hear a suit challenging the state's voter ID law, which requires a volume of voter qualification proof not present in a Supreme Court ruling that upheld voter ID. Leading the charge: a 93-year-old black woman. If she loses, Republican voter suppression wins.
Global ViewpointWhy China won't collapseThe purge of provincial party chief Bo Xilai is seen as China鈥檚 most serious political crisis in decades. But this view assumes the people are dissatisfied with the regime. In fact, the large majority of Chinese people support the single-party state structure. Still, dangers lurk.
One benefit from expanded Medicaid: savings from more available contraceptionSeveral state governors say they are unlikely to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act upheld by the Supreme Court. But by opting out, states will lose societal and budgetary benefits of fewer unplanned pregnancies by making publicly funded contraception more available.
Time to curb the illicit global arms tradeConventional weapons that are sold or diverted to unscrupulous regimes, criminals, and terrorist groups kill hundreds of thousands of civilians every year in places like Syria and Sudan. World leaders must act soon on an arms trade treaty being negotiated this month at the United Nations.
Seventeen magazine's vow to celebrate all body types: It's about time.Seventeen magazine vows to never change the shape of girls' faces or bodies in photos. If we don鈥檛 reconfigure the way girls see themselves on TV, in movies, and in magazines, even smart teens will believe the media lie that their worth is in fastidious attention to the superficial.
'Having it all' is so 1980sThe debate about Anne-Marie Slaughter鈥檚 Atlantic cover story on women and 'having it all' 鈥� career and family 鈥� is out of touch with the modern family. As a young couple, our question is how can we have just enough? We鈥檙e attuned to core joys, not status and acquisition.
If Thoreau were to move to Walden today, would he bring the Internet? Maybe.Thoreau is one of technological innovation's most famous critics. But there鈥檚 a different side to Thoreau鈥檚 relationship with technology that says a lot about our own continuing struggle to strike the right balance between individual serenity and an interconnected planet.
The 'America effect': How immigrants fall crazy in loveImmigrants' passion for America warps plans and bends dreams. My Pakistani parents realized that America changed their approach to life, just as it has changed everything else it has touched.聽American freedom is even helping (slowly) moderate latter-day Islam.
Why there will be no foreign military intervention in SyriaDespite the apparent failure of the meeting in Geneva over the weekend and a new Human Rights Watch report of widespread torture by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, a foreign military intervention in Syria is unlikely. In fact, there is reason to doubt that Washington really wants Assad to fall.
Direct foreign intervention is the only feasible option for Syria crisisThe recent Geneva agreement is ill fitted to reality in Syria, and a new Human Rights Watch report details torture by the Bashar al-Assad regime.聽Intervention appears to be the only means for halting human rights violations, stabilizing the conflict, and ensuring a sustainable transition.
This 4th of July: The dawn of a new 'independents' dayA record-high 38 percent of Americans now describe themselves as independents.聽Republican and Democratic party leaders ignore this聽growing lack of party allegiance聽at their peril.聽Whichever party shifts to accommodate more moderate voters first will survive and even thrive.
