All Editorials
OpinionAs a Republican and Iraq war veteran, I support an assault weapons banI am disappointed that an assault weapons ban will not be included in the Senate bill on gun control.聽The argument of those who claim a right to own 'military capable' rifles聽is inconsistent with the Constitution I swore to support and defend while I was deployed to Iraq.
OpinionPresident Obama's Israel visit highlights common goals and a rare friendshipPresident Obama will be welcomed in Israel today by a spirit of friendship built on聽shared values, opposition to a pursuit of nuclear weapons by Iran, and commitment to a peaceful solution with the Palestinians. Such cooperation is not common in the Middle East.
The Monitor's ViewIn Obama trip to Israel, clues of US redirectionPresident Obama's trip to Israel provides more clues about possible downsizing of the US role in the world. If true, the US must be clear to allies and friends.
The hottest global trend is localBright lights and big cities are impressive. But from home-grown food to neighborhood bike paths, community cleanups to small-time bookstores, local is where life happens.
OpinionA lesson from Iraq war: How to outsource war to private contractorsDuring the Iraq war, private defense contractors providing security and support outnumbered troops on the ground at points. Contractors can enhance US military capacity but also entail risks. US experience with private security contractors holds several key lessons.
The Monitor's ViewEuro crisis: Why a Cyprus bailout must be seen as 'fair'As Europe tackles its latest euro crisis, a Cyprus bailout deal must follow the path of being perceived as 'fair.' A tax on small-time savers isn't seen that way.
Why I can't 'come out of the closet' as a Muslim Republican quite yetMany American Muslims, myself included, believe in conservative ideals and fiscal policies. Rather than alienating potential allies, Republicans should shift their message to one of civility and inclusiveness, especially when it comes to Muslim Americans.- Why I can't 'come out of the closet' as a Muslim Republican quite yetMany American Muslims, myself included, believe in conservative ideals and fiscal policies. Rather than alienating potential allies, Republicans should shift their message to one of civility and inclusiveness, especially when it comes to Muslim Americans.
5 steps to bipartisan cuts in Medicare 鈥� and the deficit Medicare is the single greatest contributor to long-term deficits. If Democrats and Republicans cooperate on waste-cutting ideas 鈥� many of which are backed by President Obama 鈥� both parties stand to gain. Here are five ways Congress should act.- Readers RespondReaders Write: GOP can attract Hispanics; Keystone pipeline spells destructionLetters to the Editor for the weekly print issue of March 18, 2013:聽Republicans need to do more to appeal to Hispanic voters, such as emphasizing the need for a better economy and more jobs.聽There is no real argument for increasing US energy security with the Keystone XL pipeline.
The Monitor's ViewBehind the historic shift in povertyA United Nations report on human development signals huge progress in reducing poverty. All the reasons for it may add up to a turnaround in attitudes among the poor about their future.
OpinionReactions to Steubenville, Ohio and India gang rapes show India isn't so 'backward'Indian reaction to the New Delhi gang rape is in many ways more promising than American reactions to US rapes. Take the Steubenville, Ohio, case, which hasn't generated the same public outrage as the case in India. Indian protesters' calls for justice are a heartening sign of progress.
The Monitor's ViewSugary-drink bans and other fads: When pols try to nudge good behaviorNew approaches to altering personal behavior 鈥� such as banning soda, curbing gamblers, or raising alcohol prices 鈥� can fail without the bonds of community to back them.
OpinionArctic oil drilling needs better federal regulationThe federal review released today that discusses the failures that plagued last year's Arctic oil-drilling operations is a welcome first step. But only by strengthening federal regulation of these operations can President Obama show a commitment to responsible Arctic Ocean development.
OpinionIn Libya, Islam 鈥� and a purple hijab 鈥� help spurn domestic violence against womenIn newly liberated Libya, our women's rights group tried to address domestic violence by using proven international ways to raise awareness. But people threw away our fliers. Then we started Purple Hijab Day to spread the word that Islam condemns such violence. We're seeing results.
OpinionObama must push 鈥� not just praise 鈥撀燡ordan's efforts at democratic reformAhead of his trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, President Obama should remember:聽The only way for the US to maintain Jordan as a stable ally in the long term is to prod King Abdullah toward more meaningful reform that meets the rising expectations of Jordan鈥檚 citizens.聽
The Monitor's ViewRecalculating the privacy debate after Google Maps penaltyGoogle's string of privacy invasions reveals a need to rethink privacy and end a piecemeal, reactive approach. Asserting privacy as an asset would help.
OpinionProposals to ban purchase of sugary drink with food stamps won't workThe same flaws that caused a New York judge to overturn Mayor Bloomberg's ban on big sugary drinks are inherent in proposals to ban the purchase of sugary drinks using food stamps.聽Such bans are unlikely to help fight obesity and can do substantial damage to the safety net.- Readers RespondReaders Write: Why suicide rate fell in Japan; Gun ownership for self-defense is based on fearLetters to the Editor for the March 11, 2013 weekly print issue:聽It is the young people of Japan who really deserve the credit for a decrease in suicides 鈥� not the government; Large numbers of citizens carrying a gun for聽self-defense shifts America from the 'land of the free, home of the brave' to 'land of the restricted, home of the fearful.'
The Monitor's ViewIllinois and Greece as penitent cookers of booksThe SEC exposes Illinois's misleading reports on pensions while Greece cleans up its financial data to help end the euro crisis. Clean accounting, like light on a dark street, helps eliminate financial deceit.