All Editorials
Five reasons to attack IranSanctions against Iran are tightening, including Europe鈥檚 ban on oil imports. Tehran is highly unlikely to reach a negotiated agreement over its nuclear program, says Matthew Kroenig, a Stanton Nuclear Security fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations believes. In the choice between Iran having nuclear weapons and a US military strike to prevent that, a strike is the least bad option. Here Mr. Kroenig gives five reasons the US should attack Iran.
The Monitor's ViewA quality of mercy in Haley Barbour's pardonsAs he stepped down as Mississippi's governor, Haley Barbour pardoned more than 200 people, including some convicted of murder. His action, and the uproar over it, help ignite a useful debate on using mercy as a tool for justice.
Global ViewpointBrzezinski: Can democracies thrive with financial systems that are out of control?In an interview,聽Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of America鈥檚 leading strategists, discusses shifting global power, looking at China, Europe, Turkey, Russia, the US, and the Arab Spring.- Global ViewpointBrzezinski: Can democracies thrive with financial systems that are out of control?In an interview,聽Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of America鈥檚 leading strategists, discusses shifting global power, looking at China, Europe, Turkey, Russia, the US, and the Arab Spring.
3 reasons why China isn't overtaking the USMost Americans fear that China will soon surpass the United States in global power and economic clout. But this widespread view is wrong, based on sloppy analysis and outdated conceptions of national power, says Michael Beckley of Harvard Kennedy School鈥檚 Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. People who believe that China is overtaking the US make at least one of the following three mistakes.
OpinionState of the Union address: best and worst in historyThe State of the Union address is a big moment for a president, but not usually a memorable one for the public. Americans are more likely to remember Gabrielle Giffords at tonight's speech than anything Obama says. Still, the speech has had its high points, and low ones.
OpinionThanks to Occupy, rich-poor gap is front and center. See Mitt Romney's tax return.Thanks to the Occupy movement and information easily disseminated on the Internet, Americans are better informed about the rich-poor gap. The issue will continue to figure prominently in this election. Case in point: The hoopla over Mitt Romney's tax return.
The Monitor's ViewSelf-immolation as protest tactic rises in Tibet, Middle EastPolitical suicides by fire rise among many Tibetans and Arabs as their situations grow desperate. But such a tactic often fails to ignite protest, and itself raises questions.
OpinionBiggest loser in South Carolina isn't Santorum. It's evangelical leadership.Evangelical leaders endorsed Rick Santorum ahead of the South Carolina primary, but evangelical voters didn't listen 鈥� pushing Newt Gingrich to victory instead. This departure marks a dramatic shift in the movement 鈥� with far-reaching implications for American politics.
Global ViewpointRise of the dragon: China isn't censoring the Internet. It's making it work.Beijing recently strengthened Internet regulations, particularly on the popular microblogging site Weibo. Critics warn that more government monitoring and self-censorship by hosting companies further violates freedom of expression. The reality is far more complicated.- Global ViewpointRise of the dragon: China isn't censoring the Internet. It's making it work.Beijing recently strengthened Internet regulations, particularly on the popular microblogging site Weibo. Critics warn that more government monitoring and self-censorship by hosting companies further violates freedom of expression. The reality is far more complicated.
The Monitor's ViewOne year after Egypt's revolution, dictators on the defensiveOn the one-year anniversary of Egypt's uprising, the world is less free because dictators reacted to the Arab Spring. But at least now they are on notice, forcing the issue of democracy.
OpinionLike Obama? Vote for Gingrich.In most states, unaffiliated voters can vote in either party鈥檚 primary, and in some cases, partisans can cross party lines to vote in the other party鈥檚 primary. In these states, Obama supporters should 鈥� for strategic reasons 鈥� show up and vote for Newt Gingrich in the Republican primary.
OpinionEuropean debt crisis: Germany's fight against KeynesThe European debt crisis provides Germany the opportunity to preach its disciplined approach to monetary policy. Should it succeed in remaking Europe in its monetary image, Europe will prosper. Those who follow the Anglo-American model of Keynsian loose money must fall in line.
The Monitor's ViewEight reasons to hit 'mute' during TV ads by super PACsFirst Iowa, now South Carolina, have seen the first wave of political TV ads from super PACs 鈥� mostly negative 鈥� that will smother the 2012 elections. Voters have an easy way to avoid such ads.
5 reasons US must avoid war with IranDo the drumbeaters calling for 鈥榳ar with Iran鈥� never learn from history? It is tempting to dismiss their hot air as an attempt to score political points, but its sheer volume is worrying. Two former US hostages in Iran, L. Bruce Laingen and John Limbert, say Obama must ignore the war talk, and offer five key points for Washington to keep in mind.
OpinionHow Obama can slash defense budget: Cut unnecessary nuclear weapons programsIn order to reach its goal of at least $480 billion in Pentagon savings over the next decade, the Obama administration must scale back previous schemes for a new generation of strategic nuclear weapons delivery systems.
Europe's debt crisis: 5 ways it's been put to good useEurope鈥檚 debt crisis has roiled financial markets and populations. But beyond nationwide strikes and gyrating markets, Europe has put its crisis to good use. Here Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a research fellow at the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics points out five trends that will ultimately strengthen the European Union and the euro currency.
After Costa Concordia disaster: 8 safety tips for cruise ship passengersThe recent cruise ship disaster in Italy has prompted travel industry experts to advise the public about safety steps they can take, not only aboard ships but also in hotels. When the Costa Concordia ran aground off the shore of Tuscany on Jan. 13, roughly 160 yards from the shore of Giglio Island, many of the more than 4,200 passengers and crew on board the ship were reportedly unprepared for the crisis and the evacuation that followed.Nancy Dunnan, publisher of TravelSmart Newsletter, urges cruise ship passengers to take precautions to protect themselves and their belongings. She suggests the following:
OpinionSyria's quagmire points to eventual foreign interventionThe most realistic scenario in Syria is quagmire: Assad still has loyalty; the opposition is splintered, though protests continue; and the international community is indecisive, including the Arab League. But stalemate could finally prompt foreign intervention and a needed 'safe zone.'
