Presidents Afghan Agony The current Afghanistan policy review facing Barack Hussein Obama is quite far from the easiest task on the Presidential chore list.
Beyonce and Palin Take on Asia KUALA LUMPUR Who said foreign-policy issues and problems don't have entertainment value? Who said rich and prominent Americans, without exception, are insensitive to the rising importance of Asia?
Pardon Our Presidents! LOS ANGELES American democracy is sure semi-corrupt, somewhat vulgar and genetically inefficient. But it does at least one thing especially well. Its treatment of former presidents of the United States is exemplary. This is not always true ..
Geopolitical and Personal Health Asia certainly offers the world fantastic cuisine of all kinds. Consider first some of their serious food for thought.
Hatoyamas Political Philosophy LOS ANGELES It was just this side of comical. The leader of the new ruling party of Japan barely finishes acknowledging his Democratic Party of Japan's landslide win and a public-relations disaster strikes. The result: an ignominious internation..
In Defense of Ban Ki-moon Surely the United Nations, terribly flawed though it is, offers the world enough benefit that sensible people should want to contribute to its chances of success. This necessary instinct is particularly palpable in Asia, where the United Nations wo..
Sense and Sensibility of Kim LOS ANGELES He had all about him the sense of a man of destiny, someone who was aware of living his life at some level above himself.
Japan at Another Crossroad With all eyes on a rising India, an awakened China and a roiling Islam, we tend to take good old, solid Japan (still the world's second largest economy, please don't forget) as a given. But that is a mistake: These are the times that try Japan's so..
Impact of Attack in Jakarta Jakarta is closer than we realize. That's why President Barack Hussein Obama's condemnation of the suicide bombings of those two Western-brand luxury hotels in the capital of sprawling Indonesia was no we-have-to-put-out-something-or-other response..
China Tensions Over the years Mahathir has had many critics, of course, inside and outside his beloved Malaysia. But this is not the time, nor place, to evaluate them.
Worrying About US Media Everyone knows that the American news media is proud as Papa of its reputation as the storied giant-killer of politicians and as the always-barking watchdog of government.
Hong Kong and Obama HONG KONG They are worried about America, no doubt about it. ``It looks like your new President can actually chew gum and walk at the same time! Obama is perceived extremely enthusiastically in Hong Kong,'' explains David Dodwell, CEO of the con..
Many Ways to Watch Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is unpopular in many places around the world. It should then follow that almost everyone watching the vivid video reports of the antigovernment demonstrations in Tehran from afar is cheering
The Captors Dilemma LOS ANGELES Call me a dupe of the Commies, if that makes you happy I really don't care at this point. Maybe all these years I have been wrong to argue that we can negotiate with North Korea; maybe my critics are right and the regime does need..
Chinas White Cellar China has been raising its eyebrows (and sometimes mouthing blunt questions) over the safety of its mountainous portfolio in U.S. government treasury investments. But the complaints are starting to get tiresome. The bottom line is that Beijing and ..
How to Treat North Korea LOS ANGELES On the question of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), better known as (a) North Korea, (b) notorious charter member of Bush's ``Axis of Evil" and (c) pain-in-the-neck threat to world peace and stability, here are a few..
Bumpy Times in Asia Asia can be tough to figure out. Any given week in Asia offers more highs and lows than the New York Stock Exchange. The region shimmers from the sublime to the ridiculous.
