Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace … Read more
Yesterday Richard Garwin spoke in the Science Center about the role of nuclear energy in the country’s energy future, and I was once again amazed at how clearly the numbers demonstrate our nation’s strong need for nuclear energy. If we want to stem global warming and continue to grow our economy at a strong pace … Read more
I agree with the Zoey’s points about Iran’s incentives to accept American diplomatic outreach. But I would take her conclusion further. It wasn’t just Bush’s failure to be “attuned to geopolitical realities” that prevented this sort of progress; it was his failure, on a deeper level, to respect or conceptualize properly the purpose of diplomacy … Read more
So apparently McCain’s strategist, Steve Schmidt, is recommending that Republicans drop their rabid opposition to gay marriage. I think the “rabid” part is right; it’s certainly not netting them any votes. Strategically, however, I think it’s wise for them to not just give in entirely; it’s hardly as though there’s a clear majority of Americans … Read more
It’s hardly surprising to learn that after Congress demonstrated in 2008 that there were no penalties for overstepping the bounds of domestic spying, the NSA continued to overstep the bounds of domestic spying. In the summer of 2008, Congress passed the FISA Act, which immunized telecom carriers for their past violations of privacy, and ex … Read more
When former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao spoke at Harvard as a visiting fellow, I hoped she would spark debate on everything from white collar overtime regulations to pension assets. I attended her study groups and can attest to the fact that she did this and more. Ms. Chao was engaging, provocative, and thoughtful, the … Read more
It is time for the United States government to address the most threatening nuclear proliferation threat of our day: Lehman Brothers. The former investment bank is sitting on enough raw uranium to make an atomic bomb comparable to the Hiroshima weapon. There is no question as to how the US government should respond: prompt and … Read more
Yesterday, The New York Times reported that Obama is considering removing the condition that Iran cease its nuclear enrichment before the U.S. negotiates with Iran on nuclear matters. By any standard, this would be a monumental policy shift from the Bush Administration, which demanded Iran cease enrichment as a precondition to negotiation. It’s also, potentially, … Read more
The Australian government announced last week a massive 8-year, $31 billion investment in broadband that would leave the land down under with the most impressive internet infrastructure in the world. Not only does the plan promise tenfold faster download speeds (imagine streaming multiple HD movies at once), but promises to bring that speed to over … Read more
America’s policies towards Cuba have been total, unmitigated failures, so it’s really good to see Obama making some important, initial changes. The entire premise of our embargo — that isolation will weaken the regime, which in turn will trigger an overthrow — is based on a major fallacy. In reality, isolation strengthens authoritarian regimes. It … Read more