PATRICK LAWRENCE: The Failed American Experiment
Here comes the front edge of a new era, one in which America finally falls off its horse, its global standing properly diminished. “The American experiment” is a familiar phrase among us. When we reference it, we do so fully…
In Hong Kong, the Democrats Will Go Down Swinging
China has unleashed its thugs on the peaceful demonstrators Beijing wants to turn Hong Kong into Singapore—sort of. “You get a refrigerator, a TV, and a small car, but no voice.” It is hard to read the news reports and…
Turkey Could Be the Middle East’s Powder Keg
Maybe it had to come to this, given that Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s bullheaded, probably corrupt prime minister, heads an Islamist government in a nation far down the road to secularism. Erdoğan has lately limited the sale of alcohol and put…
U.S. Clout in Mideast at Stake with New Protests
There are two lessons to be learned about the dreadful spree of anti–American violence and protest that swept the Islamic world last week in apparent response to an anti–Islamic film that went regrettably viral. First, America can no longer ignore…
The Greek Tragedy Is All about Politics Now
Greeks in the streets, as they have been in the tens of thousands almost daily, have brought Europe’s debt crisis to a new and highly volatile stage. Austerity plans are political now, and there’s no stepping back from this truth….
The ‘Arab Spring’ Can Help Cut Defense Spending
If we want to bring our unconscionably wasteful defense spending under control, the place to start is with a fundamentally re-imagined foreign policy that does not require a trillion-dollar military. President Obama’s recent pledge of $2 billion in response to…
Here Comes the Chinese Spring
Social unrest is erupting in China—again. Simmering protests that began in two industrial cities several weeks ago have spread and intensified over the past few days, prompting yet more vigorous displays of force on the part of local governments and…
Why London Is Burning (Hint: It’s Not Just Thugs)
London is starting to look at lot like Athens did a few weeks ago—and so are Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and other British cities with large populations of underprivileged urbanites, white and minority alike. And it is no coincidence. These are…
PATRICK LAWRENCE: US Meddling in Hong Kong
An honorable democracy movement that held its head high for many decades now falls to Beijing’s heavy hand after U.S. meddling. Midway in a week of shocking news, I awakened last Wednesday to a piece in Asia Sentinel that made my heart…