ARTICLES AND OP-EDS
Foreign Policy
April 27, 2013
"The Test to Come: Forgiveness and Reconciliation"
Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, Middle East Initiative
Is reconciliation a feasible option for the Arab world that now seems to be moving in the direction of greater domestic intolerance and warfare? We do not know, and only time will tell. The track record of intra-Arab reconciliation has not been very impressive in recent decades, in countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Sudan and others.
April 26, 2013
"Name the Trade Rep, Mr. President"
Harvard Business Review, HBR Blog Network
By Ben Heineman, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
In President Obama's second term, the United States has an ambitious and challenging Atlantic and Pacific trade agenda which could significantly alter the architecture of the global economy.
FBI poster, via Associated Press
April 27, 2013
"Homegrown Terrorism Is Not On The Rise"
Boston Globe
By Risa Brooks
As details emerge about the alleged perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombings, observers are increasingly speculating that the attacks represent a growing threat of homegrown Muslim terrorism in the United States. Certainly, the reported professions by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev that he and his older brother, Tamerlan, were motivated by jihadist causes, as well as evidence that that they had viewed militant Islamist propaganda, are disturbing. Yet, any claim that their alleged involvement in the bombings portends a growing threat of homegrown terrorist attacks in the United States is greatly exaggerated. There is little basis for thinking that the United States should fear an onslaught of attacks by Muslim jihadists in the United States.
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
April 25, 2013
"Challenges, both here and abroad"
Boston Globe
By Nicholas Burns, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics, Harvard Kennedy School
Reflecting on the events of last week in Boston and surrounding area, Professor Burns believes that the wisest strategy will be to stay true to the United States' greatest strength -- our democratic principles.
AP Photo
April 25, 2013
"The New Normal?"
Boston Globe
By Juliette Kayyem, Lecturer in Public Policy
"...[E]very aspect of the week's events from the security precautions taken at the finish line of the Marathon to the way the manhunt was conducted will provide new standards for public safety entities who learn from each other. Giving the task of performing such an evaluation to an independent assessor without past ties to Massachusetts law enforcement is essential. Public confidence will benefit because, before we know it, there will be another Marathon next year. A formal process of determining lessons learned, while memories are fresh, is part of an effective feedback loop."
April 20, 2013
"Russia, US may face a shared threat"
Boston Globe
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
As evidence emerges, more is becoming known about Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the brothers suspected of carrying out the Boston Marathon attacks, writes Simon Saradzhyan. "They were reportedly devout Muslims who were born into a family of ethnic Chechens, lived in the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, and studied in Russia’s North Caucasus, before coming to the United States as children. Over time, the older brother, Tamerlan, became a more radical figure. Whatever his motivation, he was following a similar path to that of some insurgents in the North Caucasus, who once focused on achieving secular independence for their homeland, but went on to become intertwined in international jihadist networks that share a belief that their number one enemy is America."
April 23, 2013
"Kuwait's Historic Civil Disobedience"
Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, Middle East Initiative
Though they go back many years, in their simplest and latest manifestations Kuwait’s political developments revolve around the issue of whether or not the emir has the authority to unilaterally revise the parliamentary electoral districts system to ensure a pro-regime and docile legislature, and whether or not citizens who oppose such manipulation have the right to peacefully protest against such moves and demand more democratic behavior by the ruling elite.
April 23, 2013
"Boondock Nation"
The Huffington Post
By Charles G. Cogan, Associate, International Security Program
"...[T]he president might just as well have railed against our undemocratic, eighteenth-century system of government. From the era when a second legislative chamber was created to hold back the masses, we have a situation whereby Montana, with a population of just over one million has the same number of senators — two — as New York, with a population of almost 20 million."
AP Photo
April 22, 2013
"China Moves Cautiously Ahead on Nuclear Energy"
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
By Hui Zhang, Senior Research Associate, Project on Managing the Atom and Shangui Zhao, Former Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program, September 2012–March 2013
"Although China has every intention of continuing nuclear energy development, in the aftermath of Fukushima it has approved a number of plans to enhance safety standards. All of them emphasize that the pace of growth should be controlled to minimize risk."
April 22, 2013
"Panetta to Hillary: 'You're Flat Wrong'"
The Huffington Post
By Charles G. Cogan, Associate, International Security Program
"The issue was who was in charge of the drone program being conducted over Pakistan, the ambassador, Cameron Munter (who was present by video link) or the Station Chief. Specifically, Munter wanted to have approval power over the drone strikes. Hillary agreed. Panetta insisted otherwise."
