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Syndicated Columns

Opinion: China leader sets Latin America itinerary
June 4, 2013
The most interesting thing about the first official visit of China’s new President Xi Jinping to Latin America is that he will not set foot in Cuba, Venezuela or any other of China’s political allies in the region — which would have received a huge propaganda boost from such a visit.
Opinion: Lawmakers pass buck to regulators
June 3, 2013
Texting while driving is dangerous, especially if you are driving a train. A commuter train engineer was texting on Sept. 12, 2008, near Los Angeles, when he missed a stop signal and crashed into a freight train. Twenty-five people died.
Opinion: U.S.-China summit has high stakes
June 3, 2013
U.S. officials describe a common frustration in dealing with China over the past decade. Beijing wants to be recognized as a rising economic power but refuses to be an active partner in maintaining security. Beijing has seemed to want a free ride, without the corresponding responsibilities.
Opinion: Extremism is not about race
June 2, 2013
“I know this sounds racist, but …” So goes the subject line on last week’s email from Bill, a reader. It seems Bill has an idea. Given that “all of the radical terrorists have been Muslims,” he wants the government to mount a program to surveil every follower of Islam who immigrates to these shores. We are, claims reader Bill, “faced with a population who swears an oath to God to kill Americans — not Canadians, not Mexicans, but Americans.” It is, he says, “time we protect ourselves.” Well.
Opinion: Bringing end to war is an Obama fantasy
June 1, 2013
Nice thought. But much as Obama would like to close his eyes, click his heels three times and declare the war on terror over, war is a two-way street. That’s what history advises: Two sides to fight it, two to end it. By surrender (World War II), by armistice (Korea and Vietnam) or when the enemy simply disappears from the field (the Cold War).
Opinion: Is Biden taking lead in Latin America?
June 1, 2013
Perhaps Secretary of State John Kerry’s lack of attention to Latin America might not be so bad after all. It is moving Vice President Joe Biden to get more involved with the region, and may help turn U.S.-Latin American relations into a White House foreign policy priority.
Opinion: Texas ruling keeps dogs in proper place
May 31, 2013
Lord Byron was, according to one of his legion of lovers, “mad, bad and dangerous to know,” but he also loved dogs, which explains his cameo appearance in a recent Texas Supreme Court opinion. It answered an interesting question in a way that shows how courts can avoid creating opportunities for trial lawyers.
Opinion: Scout decision not really a milestone
May 30, 2013
Hold your applause. As milestones go, this one is disappointing.
Opinion: Kerry puts priority on Mideast peace
May 29, 2013
Secretary of State John Kerry’s cardinal rule in trying to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has been that he won’t talk publicly about the details, so it’s difficult to know how he’s doing. But he’s still hard at it, and he seems to be employing some modest variations on the traditional choreography of Middle East shuttle diplomacy.
Opinion: Obama opens important conversation
May 28, 2013
Over the last four years, there has been a strange irony. One of the greatest speakers of our era has largely kept silent about one of the signature aspects of his presidency.
Opinion: ‘Right-sizing’ counterterrorism policy
May 27, 2013
Watching President Obama’s compelling speech on counterterrorism policy Thursday, you couldn’t help wondering what he might accomplish if he could apply the same intellectual focus and intensity to governing the nation that he has shown as covert commander in chief.