All Editorials
OpinionMali security nightmare: Why foreign intervention alone won't stop the chaosA divided Mali could become a haven for armed groups and a security nightmare for the whole of West Africa and far beyond. But聽foreign military intervention alone will be insufficient to address the turmoil. External troops will need the help of local and regional civil society organizations.
OpinionTake-away from US election: Obama's 'small' issues won bigThere was no single grand message that was going to win over voters in 2012 鈥� from President Obama or Mitt Romney. A big reason is because America is so diverse and divided, and will likely continue to be.
The Monitor's ViewWhy the UN must respond to rebels splitting CongoBefore rebels known as M23 split up Congo any further, the United Nations must help this giant African nation find a unifying identity. The same goes for Rwanda.
OpinionGetting poor students to college isn't just about affordability. It's about access.Students from low-income communities need the same mentoring, leadership opportunities, and support through the college application process as their higher-income peers. Strategic partnerships between K-12 schools and local colleges are a key part of this exposure.
Global ViewpointChina is the only country with a plan to secure scarce global resourcesCompetition for scarce resources is driving up commodity prices. China's strategy is聽to invest in resource-rich economies overlooked by the West. These economies are watching to see which model 鈥� US or Chinese-style capitalism and government 鈥� best delivers growth.- Global ViewpointChina is the only country with a plan to secure scarce global resourcesCompetition for scarce resources is driving up commodity prices. China's strategy is聽to invest in resource-rich economies overlooked by the West. These economies are watching to see which model 鈥� US or Chinese-style capitalism and government 鈥� best delivers growth.
OpinionThanksgiving Day Proclamation 2012 from President ObamaIn giving gratitude for 'the God-given bounty that enriches our lives,' Americans should聽remember the 'indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.' Washington's and Lincoln鈥檚 'expressions of unity still echo today.'
The Monitor's ViewMakings of a real Thanksgiving? Hospitality to strangers.Opening one's home at Thanksgiving to those less fortunate evokes the spirit of that first feast of gratitude between Pilgrims and Indians 鈥� a shared table of different peoples.
OpinionHow to make a Hamas, Israel ceasefire in Gaza stickContrary to Hamas reports, Israel claims there is no ceasefire deal for the Gaza conflict. But US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is en route to Jerusalem, and an agreement appears to be in the making. Making it stick will require regional commitment.
OpinionA 35 percent tax rate is a number, not a principleRepublicans believe that the upper-income tax rate should not be raised. It's a line in the sand based on principle. True, low taxes is a principle. But the actual rate is relative, and must be flexible to avoid the 'fiscal cliff.'
The Monitor's ViewA path to peace in Israel-Gaza conflictThe new Arab democracies such as Egypt present a different dynamic to help resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, such as the current violence over Gaza. New models for peaceful mediation are needed.
OpinionIsrael should rethink its strategy against Hamas in GazaIsrael has dealt with Hamas through a policy of isolation and military containment. The recent escalation of violence in Gaza calls for a reconsideration of this strategy. Israel鈥檚 military response only offers a temporary palliative against a broader, inherently political problem.
Obama and Myanmar (Burma): 4 points about conflict thereA long-simmering ethnic conflict in Myanmar (Burma) recently broke into American newspapers: At least 89 people have been killed and more than 35,000 displaced in what is being described (not entirely accurately) as Buddhist-Muslim violence. With President Obama as the first US head of state to visit this country, there are four points to bear in mind about this detour from Myanmar鈥檚 road to a more open society:
The Monitor's ViewPentagon can recover from Petraeus and Allen scandalsThe Petraeus affair and the 'inappropriate' e-mails of Gen. John Allen push defense chief Leon Panetta to demand changes in the military's ethical culture. But conduct by the book also needs conduct by a conscience that knows right from wrong.
6 ways to avoid the 'fiscal cliff'Republican congressional leaders and President Obama sharply disagree over how to deal with the impending 鈥渇iscal cliff.鈥� But a successful plan shouldn鈥檛 be that hard to put in place. Here are six ways Washington can avoid the 鈥渇iscal cliff.鈥�
OpinionObama is right to visit Myanmar (Burma)The apparent end of censorship has unleashed a veritable media gold rush in Myanmar (Burma).聽On his visit there, President Obama should encourage the country's wave of democratic reforms by highlighting the urgent need for free and open media to reach all parts of the country.
The Monitor's ViewChina's new leaders can't rule by pedigreeXi Jinping, the new leader of the Communist Party, takes power along with others as descendants of Mao's revolutionary elite. But China needs rulers open to change, not those who cling to hereditary privilege.
OpinionIn shifting sands of Middle East, who will lead?Leadership in the Middle East is up for grabs as the Syrian war intensifies, the Arab Spring changes regional power dynamics, and Israel's airstrikes and Hamas rockets again roil Gaza. Last year, Turkey was the assumed role model for the region. But it has fallen down on the job.
OpinionLetter to China's new leader, Xi JinpingDear Xi Jinping: Congratulations on your elevation to the top post in China. Many expect you to be the most powerful head of state in the world. But you face global citizens who are saying, 'enough is enough' when it comes to trade, human rights, and nationalism. Be forewarned.
OpinionObama, Congress should push NATO missile defense program off 'fiscal cliff'As the automatic defense spending cuts loom, President Obama and Congress should cancel the flawed, expensive NATO missile-defense program.聽Ending the program would encourage greater international cooperation on security issues and free up Navy ships to address actual threats.
