The West faces a key test of its commitment to human rights as the Taliban cements its rigid rule in Kabul. At the moment, Western nations and the global financial institutions over which they hold considerable sway are demanding that the Taliban respect human rights as a condition of receiving the economic aid that Afghanistan …
Continue reading “The West Faces A Big Human Rights Test With The Taliban”
Of the new framework accord with Iran over its nuclear program, President Barack Obama said he hopes “that we can conclude this diplomatic arrangement – and that it ushers a new era in U.S.-Iranian relations – and, just as importantly, over time, a new era in Iranian relations with its neighbors.” In his weekend interview …
My fellow Americans: I want to speak with you tonight about an issue of vital national security, and that’s the challenge presented by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria – the radical terrorist organization that has seized a vast amount of territory in those countries, and that has threatened to attack the United States. …
Continue reading “What Obama Should Tell America (But Likely Won’t)”
WASHINGTON – U.S. counterterrorism policy revolves around efforts to prevent the creation of terrorist safe havens, such as the one al-Qaida enjoyed in Afghanistan, that enable terrorists to attack the West. That’s why U.S. officials worry about “failed states” in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere, and why U.S. forces launch drone strikes on the …
Continue reading “U.S. can’t allow an active new terrorist state to menace global security”
The poll numbers are undeniable. Disillusioned by Afghanistan and Iraq, focused on domestic concerns, Americans increasingly want their nation to reduce its global footprint and stop trying to solve the problems of others. A cautious, poll-driven President Obama responds predictably, defining America’s global interests more narrowly and eschewing calls to address humanitarian horror, protect human …
Continue reading “What FDR Can Teach Obama About American Leadership”
President Obama’s counter-terrorism strategy, which he unveiled last week in a high-profile speech at the National Defense University, is less off-base than incomplete, reflecting his effort to limit the scope of the problem and the requirements of the response in ways that will prove inadequate to the challenge. In nearly 7,000 words, Obama expressed ambivalence …