NEW YORK — Vladimir Putin has America’s foreign policy establishment swooning. One columnist admires the “decisiveness” that has put him “in the driver’s seat” in the Middle East. A veteran diplomat notes gravely, “It’s the lowest ebb since World War II for U.S. influence and engagement in the region.” A sober-minded pundit declares, “Not since […]
Fareed Zakaria
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
The inconvenient truth about Afghanistan
NEW YORK — Recent setbacks in Afghanistan — from the fall of Kunduz to the errant U.S. bombing of a hospital in that city — once again raise a question. Why, after 14 years of American military efforts, is Afghanistan still so fragile? The country has a democratically elected government widely viewed as legitimate. Poll […]
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War in Syria: West must decide about commitment
NEW YORK — Vladimir Putin has been able to act forcefully in Syria not because he’s bolder or more decisive than Barack Obama but because he has a clearer strategy. Putin has an ally, the Assad government. He has enemies, the opponents of the government. He supports his ally and fights those enemies. By comparison, […]
Posted inOp-Eds
The main message of Pope Francis (and Jesus)
NEW YORK — I am not a Christian. But growing up in India, I was immersed in the religion. I attended Catholic and Anglican schools from ages 5 to 18, at which we would sing hymns, recite prayers, and study the Scriptures. And the words and actions of Pope Francis have reminded me what I, […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Germany taking road to redemption
MUNICH — Of the 4 million Syrian men, women, and children who have fled their country, the Obama administration wants the U.S. to take in 10,000 over the next year. Britain has promised that it will revise its policy and resettle up to 20,000 over the next five years. And then there is Germany, where […]
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GOP crazy talk could get dangerous
NEW YORK — As 17 Republican candidates try to get noticed, and 16 of them struggle to compete with The Donald, perhaps we should not be surprised to hear crazy rhetoric and outlandish ideas. In recent days, Chris Christie has proposed that all legal visitors to the United States be tracked every minute, like FedEx […]
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Low oil prices might lead to world turmoil
NEW YORK — While we have been watching the Islamic State and discussing Iran, something much bigger is happening in the world. We are witnessing a historic fall in the price of oil, down more than 50 percent in less than a year. When a similar drop happened in the 1980s, the Soviet Union collapsed. […]
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Nuclear agreement with Iran: Open letter to Sen. Schumer
NEW YORK — Dear Sen. Schumer, When you announced your decision to vote against the nuclear agreement with Iran, you explained your reasons in a nearly 1,700-word statement that is thoughtful in substance and civil in tone. And yet, in the end, I found it unpersuasive. I believe that the agreement is flawed. But it […]
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Pessimistic view of Iran deal doesn’t pass the reality test
NEW YORK — Many critics of the nuclear deal with Iran believe that the problem lies in the very disposition of the president. “A very, very naive man who does not know how the world works,” says Rick Perry. “Dangerously naive,” notes Lindsey Graham. In fact, Obama is not naive, but disposition does matter. Obama […]
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Another day, another mass shooting in America
NEW YORK — Since 9/11, America has responded aggressively to the danger of terrorism, taking extraordinary measures, invading two countries, launching military operations in many others, and spending over $800 billion on homeland security. Americans have accepted an unprecedented expansion of government powers and invasions of their privacy to prevent such attacks. Since 9/11, 74 […]