Saleem H. Ali

So near and yet so far -- that's how most Americans like me feel after a visit to Cuba -- the largest Caribbean island and a country that the U.S. continues to treat as a political pariah. I returned from a visit there last month under a U.S. government licensed...

Pakistan's fledgling democracy owes much to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in terms of institutional development and civic populism around the right to vote. Despite his feudal lineage and melodramatic demeanor, the founder of the party, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was a vociferous proponent of democratic socialism, and...

Within the past month millions of people have watched the activist video about the resolutely evil African warlord Joseph Kony, aimed at spurring a global movement to capture him this year. The video has galvanized youth worldwide to pay attention to a faraway conflict in Africa. The most...

The Obama administration continues to be chagrined with Pakistan and yet has asked Congress for $1 billion in assistance with energy infrastructure projects in the country this past week. How could this be countenanced in times of economic stress and ostensible Pakistani defiance of U.S. demands on counter-terrorism?...

In mid-February, Californian Congressman Dana Rohrabacher announced his desire to nominate Pakistani doctor, Shakil Afridi, for the Congressional Gold Medal -- the highest civilian honor bestowed by our legislature. The deed which merits this accolade is his supposed assistance to the CIA in finding Osama bin Laden in...

As the election season heats up, the issue of stem cell research and the rights of embryos is once again taking traction. The Komen funding saga this past week suggests that we have yet another battle awaiting scientists and health professionals. Many political candidates are being held hostage by absolutist...