Peace and Security
A Tortured Twist on Ethics
George Orwell wisely observed that our understanding of the past, and the meaning associated with it, directly influences the future. And as the unprecedented public feud between the CIA and Congress makes clear, there are still significant aspects of our recent...
Washington Gives Peace a Chance
It's hard to get your mind wrapped around Russia's annexation of Crimea and seizure of Ukrainian military bases there. It was — and many Ukrainians say still is — part of a neighboring sovereign country until mid-March. And it seemed like Europe had transcended that...
Leave No War Behind
55 Years Is Enough
Dressed in a blazer, sweater, and gloves to protect him from the cold of a DC winter, petite 79-year old Reverend Raul Suarez loves to tell his story. The Reverend asked us to stand up and stretch our hands out towards him, as he stretched his hands out towards us....
Held Captive by Bad Policy
The War on Veterans
Do you remember Cory Remsburg? He's the Army Ranger who received a standing ovation from Congress during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address a few weeks ago. Applause is nice, especially from such influential people. It sure beats those cuts the...
Before and After a War
Military Cuts Don’t Translate into Less Spending
After Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel gave a major speech at the Pentagon, The New York Times declared that the Pentagon would shrink the Army to pre-World War II levels. While he did announce an intention to reduce a number of military programs, the Pentagon isn't...
Learning from the Twin Tragedies of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis
On a cold night this winter, 60 African-American teenagers lined up in a banquet room. Each wore a suit and tie. Each had a straight-A grade point average. "I wish the media were here now," said the president of the organization recognizing the students in one of the...
I Am Not Sybrina Fulton
My 15-year-old son is a hulking 6'6". He wears a hoodie and listens to hip hop. But I've never had to explain to him that his neighbors might find him threatening. I've never told him that police officers might assume that if he's hanging out on the sidewalks of our...
