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Maligning Biden
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates — who presided over the failed war in Afghanistan and the failing intervention in Iraq — claims that Vice President Biden was “wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”
Breaking Through the Impasse on the Jordan Valley
Recent news reports indicate that a major stumbling block in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is the insistence by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on maintaining a military force on the border between the future Palestinian state and Jordan, along the Jordan Valley.
The Benefits of Being Clear on Taiwan
Making more explicit that which is viewed by many as an implicit understanding between China and the United States regarding the status of Taiwan would constitute a major step in defusing tensions between the two powers. The governments of both China and the United States have already shown considerable restraint in this matter, ignoring demands from Chinese who wish to use force to “reclaim” Taiwan as part of the mainland and from Americans who call for recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation.
For a Fair Society
The left’s eyes are glued to New York City where the Great New Hope for progressive people just took office. The fact that Mayor Bill de Blasio was elected by a wide margin, that the support in several parts of the nation for increasing the minimum wage is considerable, and that public opinion polls consistently reveal that a majority of Americans want the government to curb inequality are all viewed as promising signs there may be a new wave of support for major social reforms.
A Three-Pronged Approach to the ADIZ
In responding to the ADIZ, the U.S. needs to consider carefully its position on China as a rising power.
Obama’s Misguided Focus on Inequality
Until Democrats—liberals and centrists alike—show government can work, the public won’t be receptive to government-driven social-justice proposals.
I have come to dread President Obama’s speeches.
Are Libertarians Going Soft?
Jonathan Rauch, one of the keenest observers of American public life (and acontributing editor at The Atlantic), reminded a group of worried progressives recently that whenever extremist forces seem poised to take over the United States, moderate counterforces move in and save the day. He had no need to mention the key examples, because they are well-known: Ted Cruz ought to take note of what happened to Joe McCarthy, the John Birch Society, and, above all, the Moral Majority.
It Takes a Village to Prevent a Crime
Riding an Amtrak train from Washington D.C. to New York City, Michael Hayden was giving interviews to reporters using his cell phone regarding national security related matters. In three different conversations, the former NSA head voiced numerous criticisms of the Obama administration, including the president’s use of a Blackberry, which he believed left the president vulnerable to foreign spying.
A ‘Syrian’ Approach — to Iran
The P5+1 (i.e., the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) are about to respond to Iran’s hour-long presentation about how it plans to come clean about its nuclear program. The P5+1 should not respond by trying to modify the proposal Iran puts forward; rather, it should suggest that Iran follow the model just agreed to by Syria.
Why Is Obama Ready to Fold in Budget Talks?
President Obama’s opening position in forthcoming budget negotiations includes a commitment to cut into the two major social-safety nets, Social Security and Medicare.
In Defense of Drones
Amnesty International has just issued a report that is highly critical of the use of drones by the United States. Its main concern is the great number of civilian casualties that these strikes cause – the so-called collateral damage. There is considerable disagreement among observers about the extent of these casualties. Amnesty International relies on local people, who are keen to call attention to them. Whatever the actual number, though, they deserve careful consideration.
MAR or War?
In a recent post for The Diplomat, Michael Haas describes my suggestion that the U.S. and China draw on Mutually Assured Restraint (MAR) to avoid falling into the Thucydides Trap, as “constructive” but subject to major criticism.
Iran Opening: Keep It Simple
Will someone explain why they consider the policy issues raised by Iran’s recent move much of an issue, a subject that needs much deliberating? Unlike Syria, where it is difficult to know with whom to side, and Egypt—where no one seems to have any good suggestions– the situation with Iran seems abundantly clear.
A Proposal for Humble Decision Making
In his 2011 best-selling book, Thinking Fast and Slow, Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman summarizes the findings of Behavioral Economics, which show that people cannot make rational decisions. Our brains are hardwired to process information poorly and draw wrong conclusions.
Will the Court Pull All Stops?
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the core, remaining limits on campaign contributions — the individual caps — should be struck down in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. Given the Court’s conservative majority and that the same Roberts Court recently put an end to caps on what corporations and labor unions can donate (in Citizens United) — one should expect the worst: allowing those with deep pockets to use unlimited amounts of money to sway politicians.
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