Former law professor Barack Obama went into surprising depth on issues of war and peace during his fifth State of the Union address. Here’s how he should grade himself.
SOTU: Obama Grades His Foreign Policy
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Human Rights
United Nations Description of Burma’s Rohingya as “Friendless” All Too True
Buddhist mobs in Burma justify their attacks on Rohingya Muslims by claiming that the victims were illegal Bengalis trying to sneak into the country.
Colombia: Success Story or Cautionary Tale?
Washington’s pursuit of trade with Colombia — encapsulated by the recent U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement — is abetting human rights abuses and marginalizing Colombian activists.
Clouds over Honduras
Honduras’ new president, Juan Orlando Hernández, takes office amid rising tensions between developers on one side and indigenous and campesino communities on the other.
The Tiguentourine Natural Gas Facility Attack in Algeria One Year Later
Before restarting operations at Tiguentourine, Washington and London demanded a major restructuring of its security by Algeria.
History and the Right of Return in Israel-Palestine
In light of competing historical narratives and a fraught political environment, can negotiators find a middle ground on the right of return for Palestinian refugees?
Forget the Final Status Issues
Rather than continuing to fixate on a grand agreement, a more incremental approach should be considered.
Will Discovery of Torture Trove Weaken Syria’s Hand at Geneva II?
Syrian President Assad can’t be happy about the images and documents of systematic torture and killing smuggled out on the eve of peace talks.
Can Love Save Europe?
Blind to the political and economic sources of their troubles, many Europeans are lashing out at gays, Jews, migrants, and the European project itself.
Poem: Why I Don’t Mention Flowers
What is there to say to a man who has traversed such a world, whose hands and eyes have betrayed him?