All Opinion
Five lessons from Kosovo on peacemaking and problem-solvingKosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci:聽The聽International Steering Group decides today whether to conclude its supervision of Kosovo鈥檚 independence. History offers few more inspiring examples of how democracy can prevail with strong international support.
Networked moms are the new soccer moms 鈥� and they're not on the sidelinesThe landscape has changed since the 'soccer mom' term gained prevalence. With technology at our disposal, we moms are now powerfully networked and politically active. Politicians take note: 'Networked moms' are definitely in the game 鈥� and changing it 鈥� not watching from the sidelines.
Sen. Collins: Republicans and Democrats can agree on Myanmar (Burma)In Myanmar (Burma) the tide of democracy is growing. But Aung San Suu Kyi rightly cautions foreign investors that the country still has no 鈥榬ule of law.鈥� The US must continue to support those working to further human rights and civil society while carefully watching Burma's generals.
Roberts ruling on Obamacare rebukes partisanship with moderationFew doubted the Supreme Court ruling on health care, or Obamacare, would be 5-4. Hardly anyone figured Chief Justice John G. Roberts would swing to uphold the law. His moderation is a measured rebuke to the law's politicization. Bipartisanship is needed on big issues.
Title IX at 40: Most schools still aren't in complianceFour decades after Title IX went into place, enormous progress for women and girls has been made. But most schools in America are still not providing men and women with equal opportunities to participate and equal treatment in athletics. There's work to be done.
Time to end the 'cold war' between Turkey and IsraelWith Iran nuclear talks stalled, Syria downing a Turkish fighter jet, and uncertainty following the Arab Spring, there has never been a more important time for Turkey and Israel to end their 'cold war.' They can begin with a compensation deal over the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident.
'Elite' Supreme Court sides with science and juvenilesJustice Alito chided the Supreme Court majority for its 'elite vision' in striking down mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of murder. But the court based its decision on science 鈥� the science of adolescent brain development. Science is a kind of elitism that we need more of.
Supreme Court immigration ruling: A win for Arizona, a call to action for CongressThe Supreme Court handed Arizona a hard fought victory in upholding the most contentious part of its immigration law. All other portions might be found constitutional, it seems, if Congress would state so explicitly in federal law. The decision should serve as a clarion call to Congress.
Why the Supreme Court ruling on immigration is a clear rebuke to ArizonaBoth sides of the immigration debate claim victory, but the court not only accepted virtually all of the Obama administration鈥檚 arguments, it also rejected Arizona鈥檚 primary contention that local police have 'inherent' authority to enforce federal immigration laws.
Beyond Supreme Court ruling: Romney, Obama, and America don't get HispanicsHispanic-Americans comprise the fastest growing electorate in the country and possibly the most misunderstood. Their views on the Arizona immigration law (SB 1070), which the Supreme Court upheld in part with its ruling today, exemplify the complex contours of Hispanic voters.
A more divisive, political US Supreme Court? Think again.Public approval of the US Supreme Court is dropping. That trend may be enforced by its decisions on the Arizona immigration law and health-care reform. But the rate of dissent in the court today is no greater than before. The problem lies with the divisive cases the court selects.
The other victim in the Sandusky verdict: Mike McQueary, the Good SoldierMike McQueary reported apparent child sex abuse, but he's blamed for not doing enough. American men may call the rule-breaking Lone Ranger their hero, but they are raised to be聽the Good Soldier or Team Player. It鈥檚 easy to blame McQueary for not being the exception.
How to maintain drop in US driving deathsDriving deaths in the US are down dramatically among teens and adults. This coincided with the Great Recession. People drove less and also drank less at bars and restaurants. While we don't want to prolong joblessness, we can do something about alcohol and driving.
Supreme Court: After health care ruling, court must rule against affirmative actionAnother blockbuster case will follow the Supreme Court ruling on the health care law known as Obamacare. Next term the court will hear Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The court should tell universities they must stop judging applicants by the color of their skin and national origin.
Military soft 'coup' in Egypt has precedentThere is a debate whether Sunday's decree by Egypt鈥檚 Supreme Council of the Armed Forces was actually a military coup. Precedent in Turkey and Algeria shows that whether generals put tanks on the street or issue a memo, officers鈥� interests are safeguarded, but society as whole pays.
Rio+20 earth summit should look to reduce black carbon through carbon tradingDelegates at the Rio+20 earth summit must look beyond CO2 to black carbon. Reducing black carbon (soot) is easier than reducing other kinds of greenhouse gas emissions. And a market-based international system to reduce carbon emissions is already in place.
4 ways US and Iran can make nuclear talks work The Moscow talks on Iran鈥檚 nuclear program ended in stalemate June 19, as both cynics and optimists anticipated. While low-level experts will meet in July, the next set of sanctions against Iran are scheduled to kick in within weeks, arguably restarting the whole negotiating process. The next time around, the parties should consider broadening their approach in these four ways.
Aung San Suu Kyi signals change in Burma, but investors should proceed with cautionChanges in Myanmar (Burma) are hopeful. Aung San Suu Kyi, once the country's most famous prisoner, is visiting Britain for the first time in 24 years.聽But foreign investors operating in Myanmar will still face challenges upholding聽international standards for human rights.
In Greece 鈥� and elsewhere in Europe 鈥� the moderate center holdsGreeks voted to continue reform, austerity, and staying in the euro zone. It was a vote based largely on fear of the alternative. But at least it produced a workable result that Greece's creditors should now support by adjusting the timeline for debt repayment.
Global ViewpointA win-win road map for nuclear negotiations with Iran in MoscowIf the P5+1 insists on its hard line with Tehran, the Moscow negotiations will be doomed.聽The US and its allies must recognize that both sides have their own constraints as well as winning cards to play.聽If there is political will on both sides, the road map for a diplomatic solution is clear.
