Christian Science Monitor | Commentary
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Letters to the editor
Readers write about dressing children in camouflage, hurricane Katrina, Social Security, and Israel's stake in peace.
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World
Israel
Let a child lose a game and learn to cope with failure
If parents prime children only for success, how will they ever be able to survive in the real world?
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Other
The real reason Iran can't be trusted
As they confront Iran's nuclear aims, negotiators must mind the Shiite doctrine of deceit called 'taqiyya.'
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World
Iran
Welcome, to Mr. and Ms. Europe
You probably never heard of the new president and foreign policy chief of the European Union – Belgian Herman Van Rompuy and Briton Catherine Ashton. That may be their strength.
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Other
Health care and illegal immigrants in America: why Mexico is the key
Urging Mexico to strive for a better health care system could relieve the burden on US taxpayers.
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World
Mexico
Health care
How China and the US can boost the global economy
China must allow currency to rise. The US must boost savings.
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World
China
Global Warming
Obama, China, and wishful thinking about American jobs
The disconnect between production and consumption threatens both China and America.
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World
China
Barack Obama
Karzai's inauguration and Obama's demand for action on corruption
The Karzai inauguration came with promises to fight graft. The US must be patient as long as he delivers.
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White House
Barack Obama
Middle East peace: Can Palestinians do an end run around Israel?
Palestinian leader Abbas tries to carry the Middle East peace process directly to the UN. But Israel's plans for 900 new homes in East Jerusalem only shows that it's just as willing to take unilateral action. No one wins when both sides refuse to ...
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World
Israel
The Fed is foolishly weakening the dollar
Devaluing the dollar is spoiling global economic recovery. The Fed and President Obama must reject easy money and ever-larger deficits.
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Other
Twilight and New Moon: sexual longing in a world of vampire abstinence
Twilight's Edward Cullen and the New Moon movie: What message do they really send?
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Other
Obama in China: Why not more US export jobs?
With 10.2 percent US unemployment, Obama in China should have pushed harder at trade barriers.
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White House
Barack Obama
China
Middle East peace: Is two-state solution kaput?
If a two-state deal isn't reached by 2011, then Palestinians should push for a one-state solution.
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Other
Obama's mission impossible with China
His challenge: form a working partnership with a resurgent nation that eschews international leadership.
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White House
Barack Obama
China
Palin's populist book tour won't help GOP
Instead of going rogue, Republicans should cultivate leadership in ideas and solutions.
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White House
Sarah Palin
Obama's 'nuclear option' on China's yuan
Selling US dollars at a lower price than the exchange rate would do much more to balance trade than pressuring Beijing.
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White House
Barack Obama
China
Sarah Palin as perpetual outsider in US politics?
Once a rogue, always a rogue, unless she adopts a positive, ideas-rich style of leadership.
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White House
Sarah Palin
My random acts of kindness versus talk-radio-type rudeness
In my neighborhood, I've found that even small gestures have made a big difference.
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Other
Obama's Afghanistan plan: the warlord factor
We owe it to our troops and to our Afghan friends to put the very best American and Afghan leaders in the provinces.
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White House
Afghanistan
Barack Obama
Letters to the editor
Readers write in about the new war crimes ambassador, the rich heritage of Muslims, and the old bible tradition of gleaning.
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Other
Seven tests for the 9/11 trial
A civilian court faces a host of challenges to convict Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others. And Obama's antiterror approach will also be on trial.
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World
9/11
Why Hillary Clinton babies Indonesia and bullies Pakistan.
Indonesia has shown it can develop democracy and confront extremists on its own. Pakistan clearly needs sharp reminders.
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World
Indonesia
Pakistan
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Fort Hood killings and the red flags for violence
The Pentagon can learn from post-Columbine schools and from gang-ridden cities how to see warning signs for would-be killers.
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Other
To solve Turkey's culture clash, old elite must yield to free speech
An interview with Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk about his latest book, 'The Museum of Innocence.'
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World
Turkey
On his trip, will Obama reset the Asian order?
Bids by Japan and China for regional influence are reminders of the reason for US preeminence.
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White House
Japan
China
Barack Obama
On Veterans Day, student vets deserve backup
Hundreds of thousands of veterans are taking advantage of the new GI Bill. They need the support of the VA and educators.
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Other
Bud Day
Obama, West, reread Fukuyama to the end, and look East
The Western footprint on the world is about to get a whole lot smaller.
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White House
Barack Obama
Turn America into a nation of savers
Smart policies could make savings, not consumption, the new norm.
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Other
World leaders recall the fall of the Berlin Wall
Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush, and Francois Mitterrand give their account of 1989.
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World
Mikhail Gorbachev
The Berlin wall and violent Islamic jihad
A persistent, united effort by governments and individuals brought down the Berlin wall. The same strategy can crack the wall of jihadist ideology.
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Other
How can the jobless adapt to 10.2 percent unemployment rate?
Spot growing fields in the economy and then find a retraining center. But such schools need to adapt quickly, and require more resources.
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Other
Mad Men's Don Draper effect
He's a suave role model, but what are viewers learning from his behavior?
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Congress
Don Young
Dressed to kill: Why clothe kids in camouflage?
Childhood is fleeting enough. Save the camo for later.
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Other
Why the new $6,500 homebuyer tax credit is wrong
Such government largess for the housing industry misdirects US savings away from investments into globally competitive businesses.
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Other
Fort Hood: What the right and the left have gotten wrong about Hasan
The tragic shooting has spawned plenty of hysteria but little discussion about what we should do about potential Islamic terrorists in our midst.
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Other
The Vatican's cynical gesture to Episcopalians
Overtures to join Rome shouldn't be based on a Catholicism-lite.
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Other
Calling Obama a socialist hides the real debate
There's tension in the US over individual choice versus public good. That's why Obama has to get better at applying the power of individual incentives.
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White House
Barack Obama
Letters to the editor
Readers write on the relationship between the British and Americans, how the Chinese see Obama, and Iran.
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White House
Barack Obama
Iran
Obama's hard choice after Iran's latest protests
With nuclear talks faltering, the US may be better off openly siding with the regime's democratic opponents.
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White House
Iran
Barack Obama
GOP's Beck-Limbaugh wing misreads Hoffman's loss in New York
The renewed effort to field staunch conservatives in competitive districts is sure to backfire.
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Other
Rush Limbaugh
Glenn Beck
How Tuesday's elections rung bells for both parties
Democrats and Republicans need to grab important 'take-aways' from this off-round voting.
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Other
Four things Democrats must do to avoid defeat in 2010
Yesterday’s losses in New Jersey and Virginia show that turnout matters.
Michael Moore ignores capitalism's blessings
'Capitalism: A Love Story' seems more like a documentary of capitalism's authoritarian losers, rather than its democratic winners.
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Other
Michael Moore
On Iran and North Korea, Obama's nuclear-free vision is at stake
Their latest defiance will undermine his grand goal. He must act more forcefully.
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World
North Korea
Iran
Barack Obama
Can Afghanistan be saved?
An interview with NATO Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen.
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World
General David Petraeus
Afghanistan
5 ways to move forward with (and without) Karzai in Afghanistan
The US needs to help the tainted Afghan president – and local and regional leaders – visibly improve the lives of the population.
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World
Afghanistan
Toast, fries, and kisses: Everything is better French
America is indebted to France for more than good food.
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