All The Monitor's View
India's giant-leap mission to MarsIndia's launch on Tuesday of its first spacecraft to Mars might seem like a waste for a country so poor. Yet the mission speaks well of India's earthly concerns and universal dreams.
Supreme Court takes up public prayerIn a case to be heard Wednesday, the Supreme Court will decide if judges can decide the types of prayers that can be spoken in a government setting. Given the private nature of prayer, and its powerful influence on individuals, the justices will likely bar courts from such government interference.
Red Cross lessons for Obamacare disputesAs arguments revive over Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), the 150th anniversary of the International Committee of the Red Cross is a time to learn from a group that first championed nonpartisan, neutral respect for a universal right to health.
A US rebuke of Germany that jarsIn an unusual criticism of Germany's economic path, a US Treasury report goes against decades of cooperative consultation among friendly, wealthier nations to help drive global growth.
Leadership lapses in NSA spying, Obamacare rolloutPresident Obama claims little or no foreknowledge of the NSA spying on allies or the 'debacle' of the new health-care law's website. Are there valuable lessons in leadership from this?
Why a UN victory in Africa marks a new day for peaceIn a precedent for peacemaking, UN-led forces helped pushed back a rebel group in Congo. The UN has now crossed another threshold in finding ways to protect innocent civilians.
US can still help Iraq find religious calmWhen President Obama welcomes Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki on Friday, he needs to link US military aid to reducing sectarian tensions and the sudden rise in mass killings this year.
NSA spying on allies: What must now changeRevelations of alleged NSA spying on American allies such as Germany's Angela Merkel must lead to a change in how the security agencies view differences between people.
Germany calls Europe to attentionAs Europe's leaders meet, they face German pressure for each eurozone nation to steel itself for a 'stress test' of wobbly banks. National self-discipline, not more German bailouts, will help cement the EU's economic future.
Where Detroit isn't going bankruptAs a judge decides whether to let the city of Detroit go bankrupt, its residents, aided by money from many foundations, have reimagined a future based on their most valuable asset: each other.
Drone strikes that hit civilians: Time to rethink intelligenceNew reports about US drone strikes that kill civilians while aiming for terrorists must lead to a probe of how the military and CIA define 'intelligence' used by both drone operators and drones.
What Obama must do for Syria peace talksAs he prepares for peace talks on Syria planned for November, President Obama can better help unite the anti-Assad, pro-freedom opposition with a clear vision of what the US supports.
Saudi Arabia's challenge to the United NationsWhen Saudi Arabia refuses a seat on the powerful UN Security Council, does it say more about the UN or the royal House of Saud?
Inklings of a deal on Iran's nuclear programSubstantial talks between Iran and six world powers began with signs of hope for rapid progress. Even though the sides are far apart, the world must support these war-averting negotiations.
The Senate deal's promise to AmericansThe best part of the Senate deal, devised to break Washington's logjam, is the promise of a joint congressional panel to make difficult budget compromises for fiscal sustainability. That may allay public fears of a debt tsunami.
Praise for those who cross shale's fault linesThe quality of the debate over whether or how to tap shale gas and oil may have turned a corner this year as more groups and states find consensus-seeking ways to deal with the hard issues.
This Nobel Peace Prize was only half rightThe 2013 Nobel Peace Prize was wisely given to the body trying to rid the world of chemical weapons. But who will divert the scientists who know how to make such weapons into peaceful pursuits?
An African lens on breaking sovereigntyForeign intervention in Africa has become almost a norm, with the Central African Republic as the latest example. The world must ask how much it should honor individual rights over national sovereignty.
What Janet Yellen must do at Federal ReservePresident Obama's nominee for Fed chief, Janet Yellen, needs to look beyond financial data to create jobs and avoid inflation. The Great Recession showed that economists must also deal with giant lapses in character, even at the Fed.
To end Egypt's violence, a truce on Islamic fatwasBoth sides in Egypt's violent struggle to restart democracy have evoked Islamic edicts. Yet a democracy based on liberty of conscience requires a separation of mosque and state.
