If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
Mindless threats and meaningless bluster will not bring the world closer to peace. We must finally embrace the reality that leaders of countries, especially undemocratic ones, will do anything to stay in power.
Is the Congolese government of Joseph Kabila using the international press to wage a propaganda war against the new rebel fighters in eastern Congo? This is possible and probable given the amount of disinformation disseminated by the foreign press in recent days.
Intense fighting between rebel factions and the Congolese army spread to Virunga Park this week, threatening a critical UNESCO world heritage site and the endangered mountain gorillas.
There are real international security problems, and some entity should certainly be addressing them. But is NATO the proper entity?
NATO's founding purpose no longer exists, but NATO continues to circumvent the authority of the United Nations and to provoke other nations. Instead of trying to bolster the organization, we should begin serious discussions to dismantle it.
This week, Congress is considering two pieces of legislation relating to Iran. The first undermines a diplomatic solution with Iran and lowers the bar for war. The second authorizes a war of choice against Iran and begins military preparations for it.
Wounded Warrior had asked some of us to come to Landstuhl to meet with the medical staff there. Some 3,000 strong, military and civilian, they work ceaselessly in what has become one of the busiest trauma centers in the world.
Today the House is planning to take up H.Res.568 -- a resolution that shifts the U.S. redline for war with Iran -- on a suspension vote. There has not been a single hearing on this measure and no debate about its very serious implications.
In a way, this was a classic labor conflict between a public agency and workers. But UNRWA is a unique international bureaucracy, with a global budget crisis intertwined with the politics of the conflict-ridden regions it serves.
Much controversy has surrounded the use of remote-controlled drone aircraft in the war on terror. But another, still more awe-inducing possibility has emerged: taking human beings out of the decision loop altogether.
This Mother's Day, and every day, my greatest dream for my children is peace and stability. That may not seem like much, but to me, it's everything.
American politicians and the public lacked the necessary information to devise a viable solution. There was definitely enough press about mass deaths to alarm the public, but journalists simply couldn't provide enough information to persuade anyone to take action.
Jim Gaffigan recently spoke with me about why he's reaching out to military families, why becoming famous has been both a blessing and a curse, and why his stand-up doesn't need swear words to hit home.
The Los Angeles Times exposé a couple weeks ago offers chilling testimony of how badly sentiments and moral judgments can slide out of kilter in time of war.
Even low-ranking servicemembers have not just to inform the population about the truth of war, but to ignite policy discussions and spur concessions to be made at the highest levels of authority.
If there aren't enough musicians these days producing albums that will help Americans cope...we can always reach back into the vault.
