Soon after 9/11, the American media rediscovered the aesthetics of military deployment. Melancholy scenes of soldiers in fatigues waving to red-eyed wives and baffled-looking children are a common sight on CNN. The focus is on the emotion, but much less often do we hear what the soldiers have to say about their experiences. But a … Read more
The March 5 announcement of President Hugo Chávez’s death marks a new chapter for Venezuela, as its population reflects on the legacy of the polarizing leader and its own future. As a result of his social programs, his political inclusion of the poor, and his assertions of Latin American independence from “imperialist powers,” Chávez gained … Read more
The past month has seen immense upheaval in the Central African Republic, a nation already renowned for its fragile political structure, rampant poverty, and highly erratic policymaking. On March 25, a rebel group dubbed Seleka, the word for ‘alliance’ in the Sango language, infiltrated the capital of the C.A.R., Bangui, and forced then-President François Bozizé … Read more
After weeks of fierce protests against (and counterprotests in favor of) mariage pour tous (“marriage for all”), the French National Assembly cast the final vote 331-225 in favor of legalizing marriage for same-sex couples on Tuesday. President François Hollande made same-sex marriage a central promise during his presidential campaign. The victory, though a clear success … Read more
Amidst the seasonal chatter of virulent H5N1 influenza strains and lingering concerns about H1N1 arose a new topic of interest this April: the emergence of a new flu strain, H7N9, which had previously never been seen in humans. First reported to the WHO on March 31, the new strain had already caused 77 cases and … Read more
America’s war in Afghanistan began in 1979 — not 2001 — when we supported the mujahedeen in resisting the Soviet invasion. When the Cold War ended in 1991, we left Afghanistan. We had successfully stopped communism’s spread, and the American public was understandably tired of spending lives and money in this faraway land. We are … Read more
America’s war in Afghanistan began in 1979 — not 2001 — when we supported the mujahedeen in resisting the Soviet invasion. When the Cold War ended in 1991, we left Afghanistan. We had successfully stopped communism’s spread, and the American public was understandably tired of spending lives and money in this faraway land. We are … Read more
In an interview with a major Italian newspaper, the newly appointed president of the Italian Senate and former anti-mafia prosecutor Pietro Grasso said that his dream is to to hold his grandson on his lap and tell him a story that starts with the words “C’era una volta la mafia,” meaning “Once upon a time … Read more
When Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s now infamous 2010 remarks were widely published in January, the world questioned whether he still believed that Israelis were the “descendants of apes and pigs.” A more pertinent question, though, may be whether these statements represented the beliefs of the organization that helped bring Morsi to power. For if these … Read more
In the first two days after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away, it seemed as though every reporter and op-ed contributor had a different view of the Iron Lady. Comments on Lady Thatcher ranged from current Prime Minister David Cameron declaring, “she saved our country” and President George H. W. Bush remembering her … Read more