All The Monitor's View
Women in combat: Why that's so yesterdayThe military's decision to allow women in almost every combat role isn't surprising at a deeper level. Humans have been more rapidly overcoming barriers to physical limitations. Now we just expect it.
Election takes Israel's finger off trigger for war with IranThe surprising results of Israel's election sent a message to Netanyahu not to be so trigger-happy in his threats toward Iran's nuclear program. The rise of centrist parties also sends a moderating message to the Middle East.
Obama's chance to lift suspicions of ChinaIn his inaugural, Obama's brief mention of foreign affairs called for lifting fears and suspicions through 'engagement.' The idea needs immediate US application in the troubling Japan-China islands clash.
Obama inaugural address: a call to act on unfulfilled idealsPresident Obama's inaugural address is a call for action to secure America's rights and freedoms. His plea relies on a people who must put love for each other into practice.
Lance Armstrong doping confession: In any sport, drugs are drugsLance Armstrong's doping confession in an interview with Oprah Winfrey should draw outrage, but so should any drug use 鈥� including marijuana 鈥� by sports stars.
What Obama's gun proposals left outPresident Obama's actions and proposals on gun violence are worthy, especially his directive on research into media violence. But he failed to link gun violence to children of broken or single-parent homes.
After French intervention in Mali against Islamist rebels, now what?The French military intervention in Mali against Islamist rebels does not need to be another Afghanistan. Containing rather than defeating Mali's violent jihadists should be the goal.
How to debate Obama's gun proposalsThis week, President Obama gives his post-Newtown proposals on gun regulations. But first, Washington must adjust the way it debates guns.
Three years since Haiti earthquake: Learning the art of listeningThe third anniversary of the 2010 Haiti earthquake brings sober lessons for aid groups. First lesson: Listen more to locals.
Home truths in new mortgage rulesNew regulations on home mortgages from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will raise ethical standards and lower risks. But they don't reduce government incentives that might create another housing bubble.
Cry for food in Syria may be opening for peaceThe UN warns it cannot feed some 1 million displaced Syrians, many in war zones with few bread supplies. A global response to this humanitarian crisis might help diffuse differences over political solutions.
With Hagel at Defense, what would be America's 'special role'?America's historic identity as a people with a universal mission faces a new era in Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary. Israel and even military cuts aren't the core issues. America's 'special role' is.
China censorship protest as 'living in truth'Protests erupt following a strike by journalists at a Chinese newspaper whose editorial on free speech was censored. Unlike most other protests in China, this one is about living in the truth.
In India rape protests, another public outbreak of moral conscienceProtests in India over a woman's rape and later death fit a new pattern of spontaneous, Internet-driven moral shock over a galling incident. From Tunisia to Russia to India, better-connected and urban people can more easily band together when their conscience is struck.
Taking choice out of personal healthAs more governments move to restrict personal choices as a way to cut costs, especially in health care, they can easily impinge on both liberty and alternative ideas about health.
Who forced a 'fiscal cliff' deal? Try foreign investors.Washington is now all too aware that foreign creditors and investors will punish it for any macroeconomic mismanagement. American competitiveness was at stake in the fiscal cliff negotiations.
For journalists and Internet, 2013 must not repeat 2012Record assaults on journalists in 2012 and official moves to censor the Internet show how much authoritarian regimes fear the truth. Perhaps in 2013, truth-tellers will start to win.
India gang rape: why women are needed as justice officialsMass protests in India after a vicious gang rape of a female student help put a spotlight on countries that need to have more women police and judges. Antirape laws are not enough.
Egypt's big lesson in democracyEgypt adopted a postrevolutionary constitution this week. But the Arab nation has only begun to understand that democracy isn't only majority rule.
Homes for the homeless: a smart investment in dignityDespite a recent rise in poverty, homelessness is down. One reason? Providing a residence for the homeless creates enough self-respect for them to deal with underlying issues.