US Opinion and Commentary

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Haunted by Hiroshima

Posted April 11th, 2016 at 3:20 pm (UTC-4)
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For Mr. Kerry, President Barack Obama and anyone else who assumes the mantle of leadership, there should be one overriding goal when it comes to nuclear weapons — to work toward a world free of them entirely. The horror of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should never been unleashed again…

Empowering Adolescent Girls

Posted March 15th, 2016 at 3:42 pm (UTC-4)
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“One of the most effective ways to meet this goal is to make certain that every single young woman has the ability to go to school, and to receive a quality education in a safe environment. And this is vital not only to prepare a young woman for the workplace, obviously, but for much more than that.” Secretary of State John Kerry

The President Is Going to Cuba: Here’s Why

Posted February 26th, 2016 at 4:24 pm (UTC-4)
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In March, Barack Obama will be the first American president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928 to visit Cuba

Testing ‘Russian Seriousness’ in Syria

Posted February 17th, 2016 at 2:46 pm (UTC-4)
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On Friday, a cessation of hostilities brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last week in Munich is set to go into effect. Part of the agreement includes the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to besieged areas. That part of the deal has begun. The other part? Not so much.Kerry explained the Obama administration’s position on Syria earlier this month in an interview with The Washington Post: “What we’re doing is testing [Russian and Iranian] seriousness,” he said. “And if they’re not serious, then there has to be consideration of a Plan B…. You can’t just sit there.” Russia’s intentions are of particular concern to the United States. Backed by the Russian military, the government has nearly surrounded Aleppo, the rebels’ most important base. The campaign has been bloody, forcing a new wave of Syrians to flee. With no appetite to send in U.S.ground troops, calls for a safe zone in Syria are getting louder. So far, the U.S. has said no. But with so few options left – and fears of Putin’s growing influence – Kerry’s hint may be a revised U.S. policy

Kerry: Journalism ‘Is Not A Crime’

Posted February 1st, 2016 at 2:11 pm (UTC-4)
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“We see it in what happens in the absence of knowledge and the power that it gives to dictators, to demagogues, to tyrants. Silence allows crime and corruption to rot whole countries.” Secretary of State John Kerry

Shifting Alliances

Posted January 19th, 2016 at 4:04 pm (UTC-4)
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One of the many ripple effects of the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap and Tehran’s verified compliance with the historic nuclear accord is a new world order in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia – a long-time rival of Tehan – is nervous and talking tough, as the lifting of costly Western sanctions is set to propel Iran’s economic might. Not long before the latest developments, Saudi Arabia had already stoked tensions by beheading the prominent Shia cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr. That provoked a violent attack on the Saudi mission in Iran, which in turn, gave the House of Saud a reason to sever diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, both President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry hailed the use of diplomacy to win the release of five Americans in a prisoner swap with Iran, simultaneously praising Tehtan for pausing its nuclear program. Where does all this leave the traditional, and sometimes co-dependent, U.S.-Saudi relationship? Making friends with Iran was a big gamble. It appears the Obama administration believes the benefits outweigh the costs.

Obama: ‘Strong American Diplomacy’ Pays Off

Posted January 17th, 2016 at 2:58 pm (UTC-4)
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“This is a good day.” So began President Barack Obama’s televised statement on the release of Americans held in Iran following delicate negotiations between the United States and Iran on a prisoner swap apparently tied indirectly to last year’s historic nuclear pact to scale back Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Five Americans, including a Washington Post reporter, were freed in exchange for seven Iranians. The prisoner trade was swiftly condemned by Republican presidential hopefuls and some pundits. The stunning developments included sanction relief for Iran, and the release of roughly $100 billion of its assets after international inspectors concluded that the country had dismantled large portions of its nuclear program. Despite the developments – who can argue against the happiness that comes with release of Americans citizens and their families? – Iran remains on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism. And that means the road ahead will be long and bumpy.

Obama Hails New Era As Iran Complies With Nuke Deal

Posted January 17th, 2016 at 11:32 am (UTC-4)
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“I’m very happy to say that as we speak, we have received confirmation that five Americans who had been unjustly detained in Iran have been released from custody.”

Russia Unleashes Military Strikes in Syria, Putting Pressure on US

Posted September 30th, 2015 at 2:40 pm (UTC-4)
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No matter what, the bold move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to conduct airstrikes in Syria is a dramatic game-changer. The White House says it’s unclear what the Russians were aiming at and unclear what they hit. Murkier still, the question of whether the United States is in this with Russia. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says a communication channel needs to be established. Secretary of State John Kerry warns Russia to keep the strikes aimed at the Islamic State or other extremist groups like al-Nusra, and not any target that shores up the regime of Bashir al-Assad. Four years after the uprising against Assad began, a new chapter has begun.

Are There Really Only Two Options on Iran?

Posted July 29th, 2015 at 9:30 am (UTC-4)
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Plenty of conservatives have proposed alternatives to Obama’s Iran deal — and not just war.

The Sources of Opposition to the Iran Agreement

Posted July 28th, 2015 at 11:39 am (UTC-4)
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If the current debate were being conducted solely on the merits of the agreement, the outcome would be almost a no-brainer; the agreement is obviously much better than the alternative of killing the agreement … And yet the agreement’s political fate on Capitol Hill does not reflect that.

Deal With Iran: The Reaction

Posted July 14th, 2015 at 12:45 pm (UTC-4)
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The ink was hardly dry on the deal negotiated by the P5+1 and Iran to limit Iran’s nuclear program before critics and supporters weighed in on its merits. Once the agreement makes its way to Congress, it has 60 days to vote up or down on it. If Congress rejects it, President Obama says he will veto that rejection, forcing Congress to come up with a two-thirds majority to override.

Why the Iran Endgame is So Tortuous

Posted July 9th, 2015 at 2:39 pm (UTC-4)
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By Barbara Slavin Successful diplomacy requires an astute mix of psychology and substance. The past few days of Iran nuclear negotiations have featured plenty of both, with long sessions devoted to arcane technical issues interrupted by raised voices and threats to walk away rather than accept an agreement that does not meet respective bottom lines. […]

End Game for Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Posted June 26th, 2015 at 3:35 pm (UTC-4)
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By Barbara Slavin With the arrival of Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, in Vienna Friday, the climax to nearly two years of intensive negotiations is at hand. Opponents and advocates of a long-term nuclear agreement with Iran are marshaling their best arguments in an effort to influence the talks […]