Archives

Failed State: Why the Taliban's Corrupt Afghanistan Can't Be Saved
How many more Afghans will we allow to be killed so that our politicians will not have to admit that the United States and its allies failed in Afghanistan, and it is time to get out?

Human Rights Are a Worthy But Tricky Foundation for Foreign Policy
The Biden administration is reintroducing liberal principles – the promotion of democracy and human rights – as a major foundation of U.S. foreign policy.

Iran: Let's Talk - "Why America Is Signaling Its Willingness to Talk to Iran"
The Biden administration has already taken several steps that Tehran will view as an indication that President Joe Biden is very keen to avoid a confrontation and to talk instead.

One More Joe Biden Challenge: Maintain Discipline
Add one more entry to the long list of challenges President Joe Biden faces: exerting discipline.

It's Time to Impose a COVID-19 Equity Surcharge on Wall Street
Congress should impose a small COVID-19 equity surcharge on all trades in stocks, bonds and derivatives. The funds raised from this surcharge should be invested in counties in which the COVID death rate is at least twice the national average.

Criminalize Threats To Public Officials
Just as 9/11 led to new, tough measures against foreign terrorists, the Jan. 6 insurrection should lead to changes in law to curb domestic terrorists.

Will the Biden Administration Embrace Trump's Extreme Anti-China Rhetoric?
Amid the great sense of relief now that the reins of the federal government are in the hands of President Joe Biden, I was distressed to hear his designated secretary of state, Antony Blinken, agreed that China is committing genocide.
The Secrets of a Published Author
So, you have a manuscript (or plan to write one) and you think it is going to be a bestseller. Or, you fear it will be a dud. Well, if my experience holds, you will be unable to tell. I did not get the prediction right for any of the 30 books I wrote, nor did the editors, nor the publishers.

Joe Biden: A Wartime Leader in the Coronavirus Era?
An unrelenting pandemic calls for a wartime-like mobilization of all sectors, public and private, as well as the third sector, which includes places of worship, voluntary associations, and foundations.

Multilateralism Is Good, Just Not Good Enough: "What a Biden Administration Means for Multilateral Diplomacy"
President-elect Biden’s statements about foreign policy include many bullet points. However, beyond getting the United States to lead again, by restoring its moral standing and democratic institutions, his main shtick is multilateralism.

Biden Should Declare a State of War Against the Coronavirus
If we just imagined that COVID-19 had a uniform and flag, we would not hesitate to call on the new president to respond by asking Congress to grant him the powers embedded in the War Powers Act as soon as he takes office on January 20.

Don't Let Individual Rights Luddites Stop Coronavirus Vaccine Passports
The response to concerns should not be to forgo the passports, but to institute safeguards to ensure that the collected data are not abused.

How to Make Zoom Democratic
The fact that Zoom (and other such platforms) have been of great social and public service during the pandemic should not make one overlook their limitations and hence the need for still other platforms. I hence forged one, CivilDialogues.org, and I am comparing it to Zoom here next.

How to Monitor the Vaccinated While Addressing Privacy Concerns
There is a great deal that public health authorities can learn if proper data are collected about the effects of the first anti COVID-19 vaccinations.

Joe Biden’s Iran Policy Must Be About More Than the JCPOA
Iran is one of the nations that is most likely to try to test Joe Biden’s resolve.