After Boston, A Predictable Wave Of America-Bashing

The “blame America first” crowd that Jeane Kirkpatrick, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called out in her speech to the 1984 Republican National Convention, lifts its collective head at opportune moments. When death and destruction rain down on America, this odd mix of hard-left, hard-right and hard-middle critics and cranks don’t blame …

Stakes Too High To Ignore Democracy’s Retreat

Western thinking about freedom and democracy is marked by a set of optimistic assertions, which include the following: First, the global advance of freedom and democracy marches ever-onward. Second, economic and political freedoms in a particular nation walk hand in hand, each reinforcing the other. Third, the more a society (particularly its middle class) enjoys …

Time For U.S. To See Turkey As It Is

“Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to visit Turkey this week,” Reuters reported yesterday, “as part of a trip to Western Europe and Asia to consult allies on issues including Syria’s civil war.” Turkey? An “ally?” In United States foreign policy-making, perception often lags reality. Presidents George W. Bush and President Barack Obama assumed …

Chavez’s Death A Huge Opportunity – If Venezuelans Can Seize It

The death of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez prompts two questions, the answers to which will have enormous implications not just for his country but for the United States, Latin America, and points far beyond. First, will the government Chavez left behind conduct a fair election to replace him, which is supposed to occur within 30 …

Rest Assured – Nuclear Talks With Iran Are Resuming

Good news, everyone. Nuclear talks are resuming on Feb. 26 between Iran and the P5+1 – the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany – and not a minute too soon. The Islamic Republic has been making notable progress on the nuclear front, perhaps even approaching an ominous “break-out” capability on technology …

Does America Know Its Own Best Interests?

President Barack Obama raised eyebrows in Jewish circles recently when word leaked that, according to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, he had been privately saying “Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are.” Obama’s comments, reflecting weariness more than anger about Israeli behavior, came when – in response to a UN General Assembly vote in late …