Welcome to budget week in Washington: President Obama proposes his budget, his opponents slam it, and the inter-party slugfest over fiscal policy resumes. But, if you want to understand the fiscal paralysis in Washington, dispense with this week’s theatrics and read the insightful story that the New York Times ran this past weekend about the …
Have you ever heard of Irena Sendler? During the Holocaust, this Catholic social worker saved 2,500 Jewish children from certain death by convincing their parents, who were trapped in the Warsaw ghetto, to let her smuggle their kids to gentile families on the outside. She risked her life every day for months, sneaking the kids …
Continue reading ““It gives me hope.” The remarkable story of Irena Sendler”
Perhaps the most depressing story on American politics in recent days adorned the Washington Post’s front page. The dateline was Laurens, South Carolina, and the story began this way: Once upon a time — oh, about two presidential elections ago — Dianne Belsom would get up in the morning and read the paper, taking in …
Continue reading “My fellow Americans: to solve problems, open your minds”
The West is entering a particularly dangerous period in its confrontation with Iran, but due less to rising tensions between the two sides than to a concerted push by mushy-headed “experts” on how to defuse them. In its efforts to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons pursuit, the West remains in a race against …
Continue reading “On Iran, pay no attention to mushy-headed “experts””
Republican Mitt Romney’s strong showing in New Hampshire, combined with the absence of a clear-cut challenger to prevent his speedy coronation, will focus growing attention on Romney’s need to strengthen his support among the GOP’s conservative base – and on which potential running mate could help him do that. Ask a Washington insider and the …
Continue reading “Time for Marco Rubio – and everyone else – to get serious”
At its best, U.S. policy toward the Middle East consists of a deft combination of short-term pragmatism and long-term idealism. In the short term, Washington works to protect Israel and other U.S. allies, combat terrorism, rebuff Iran’s hegemonic ambitions, and support regional stability, all of which ensures the continued flow of oil to power Western …
Continue reading “Radical Muslim power grabs in key Arab nations would be huge setback for U.S.”
Recent reports that Washington has turned to a leading Muslim Brotherhood jurist to help cut a deal with the Taliban raises a key question: is the United States making a bet that it will come to regret? That depends on whether the Muslim Brotherhood, the controversial Islamic group that dates back to 1928, has sincerely …
Continue reading “With the Muslim Brotherhood, Washington risks sleeping with the enemy”