Peace and Security
The New Agenda on Guns We Need after Newtown
I'm glad I retired five months ago. Think of it: I was spared writing about the presidential election, an event so vacuous it made reality TV seem interesting. If there was any serious discussion of an important national issue — global warming, our obesity epidemic,...
Good Company
Ripe for Reduction
Here we are on brink of a major historical moment. We’re beginning to wind down the longest period of war in our history. And we’re about to turn around a 13-year-long surge in Pentagon spending.
Our National Failure to Commit
America is suffering from a failure to commit. Just ask Bob Dole.
Washington and Colorado Voters Opt for a Smarter Drug Policy
After four decades and billions of dollars in spending, the U.S.-led “War on Drugs” has failed.
Name that Foreign Policy Legacy
In re-electing President Barack Obama, voters decisively rejected the Republican version of economic reform. He’s already angling to use his mandate to solve the nation’s fiscal woes by letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire for the rich.
The Real Problem with Military Spending
The federal budget cuts scheduled to start January 2 unless Congress gets it act together would reduce funding for everything from nuclear warheads to food safety. But even if you feel strongly that federal spending is out of control, there are plenty of reasons to cancel these looming cuts.
Our Endless State of War
Combat’s different today than when your grandfather earned his medals. Armies no longer advance and retreat along battle lines. Tanks no longer maneuver. Fleets don’t engage. We’re past all that.
Our Nuclear Insecurity Complex
Back in July, an 82-year-old nun and two fellow peace activists breached the security at the Y-12 nuclear weapons facility in Tennessee. The red-faced federal officials who subsequently promised thorough oversight proclaimed they had “no tolerance” for that kind of negligence.
Please Don’t Shoot the Messengers
When you picture classified documents, don’t visions of spy lists, nuclear ignition formulas, cross-sections of bomber wings, or diagrams of missile trajectories come to mind?
