Peace and Security
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...
Reading the Tea Leaves on Iran
Here are some simple things to keep in mind about U.S. relations with Iran: The many influential Americans seeking war with the Middle Eastern country include: 1. Munitions companies that profit from the sale of missiles, helicopters, bullets, etc. 2. TV pundits who...
The Dangerous Seduction of Drones
Senior Obama administration officials say our government is sharply scaling back its drone strikes in Pakistan. That's a step in the right direction. It would be even better if the entire U.S. program of targeted killings in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia were scrapped....
Drone City
Taking Tailgate Patrol to the Next Level
In the ever-escalating competition to be the No. 1 big-time college football program in the nation, Ohio State University bulked up last fall with a monster recruit named Maxx. Actually, it's not the coaching staff that signed this brute, but the OSU campus police...
Media Silence on an Irate Gun Company’s Connection to Sandy Hook
A Colorado gun-accessories company garnered national media coverage when it announced plans to move most of its manufacturing and sales operations to Wyoming and Texas. The reports highlighted that the company was pulling up stakes to protest the state's new gun...
Remembering Pete Seeger
One of our great heroes died last night. At 94, I suppose it wasn't a tragedy for him, especially since his wife Toshi died last summer after a life of love and shared work, and 70 years of marriage, but what a huge loss. For all of us. Pete gave us everything —...
