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Myanmar’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters
As the new Myanmar government—now with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi involved—pursues its reforms and hopes to improve its relationship with the West, a larger problem remains: the new Myanmar is still racked with its old Burma problems, so to speak.
Jordanians Count their Blessings
The face of Walid al- Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, appears on television: “Syria always keeps its promises,” he says to Ban Ki-moon. The scene cuts out, and immediately cuts back into an image of Syrian warplanes raining hellfire down upon the Syria landscape. Explosions, smoke, and misery ensue.
Petrol Patronage
Hassan Rouhani’s election as President of Iran has generated great excitement in the West. But the new president is not the only actor who could stand to play an important role in resolving the ongoing crisis between Iran and the West.
So how unique was Sandy?
By highlighting the frequency of significant tropical cyclones striking the New York City region, this article is not meant to reduce the importance of finding solutions as quickly as possible; rather, it is meant to heighten awareness of the special risk that New York City has always faced, but has never fully addressed.
Why Pakistan Still Matters
One thing is certain: Pakistan is the only state even capable to promoting regional stability. Despite its political maneuvering and manipulation, Pakistan is the most important actor in the peace process.
A Vindication of the Rights of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are therefore necessary to our continued growth. They provide stability and performance where they are needed. We cannot live in a world where the well- being of humanity must be sacrificed.
Political Minutes: Herman Van Rompuy
Appointed in 2009 by the European Union’s then-26 heads of state (there will soon be 28), Van Rompuy is bound to their decisions – a degree of separation between his office and European public opinion that he insisted is good and necessary. But he also spoke of wrestling the Council, which must act unanimously, into consensus. “I’ve stayed in good shape for a man of 66,” he joked.
Chasing Daisies
In the end, Syria will only be able to move on once Assad is gone. Most opposition fighters, extremist or moderate, refuse to consider a future in which Assad rules any part of Syria. Simply put: as long as Assad survives, war will persist. And as long as war persists, extremism will spread.
Iran’s New Leader
Rouhani’s positive language should be scrutinized and taken seriously if the United States wants to establish greater legitimacy when dealing with the Middle Eastern issues. This may be a fruitful time when the U.S. could achieve its national objectives by carefully inviting Iran through diplomatic means instead of using the power of coercion, which it already has but with no apparent success.
Amidst Upheaval, a Land of Opportunity
Despite the challenges posed by turbulence since 2011, the monarchy has stood its ground against democratic change, bided its time, and absorbed the punches delivered by regional tumult. Now, the torrent of the Arab Spring has blossomed into a “Saudi Summer” for the al-Saud.
The Blindfold of Justice
Inherent to our national and cultural commitment to trial by jury is a commitment to the principle that personal liberty is such a valuable right that it is better to acquit someone who is in truth guilty than to wrongfully sentence an innocent.
Imminent Threat: When Can We Stop a Publication?
Whether news related, literary, scientific, or otherwise, any category of speech has the potential to endanger someone. However, just because such ideas are potentially dangerous does not mean they should be censored.