Base policies on facts, not opinions
The editorial “A new challenge in Iraq,” Aug. 12, presents comprehensive polling statistics regarding Americans’ contradictory feelings about Iraq, war, and the rise of Islamic militants. The editorial...
View ArticleA fresh view on global warming
Regarding Eugene Robinson’s column “Jeb’s foreign policy speech makes it clear he’s a Bush,” Feb. 20, Jeb Bush may be serving up foreign policy leftovers but at least one of his advisers has a fresh...
View ArticleGOP governing a three-ring circus
It’s hard to get serious about Congressional Republicans. They claim that what they’re giving us is serious governing. But let’s call it what it is: A circus. We grip our seats waiting to see what the...
View ArticleGovernment real abuser of welfare
After the first several paragraphs of the commentary “Food stamp proposal would humiliate the needy,” May 29, I found myself asking: What’s wrong with this proposal? The proposed state laws would limit...
View ArticleMideast policy continues downward spiral in Syria
American foreign policy leaders show no sign of having learned anything from the disastrous efforts in Middle Eastern countries over the last 20 years. The likelihood of any change is nonexistent. Our...
View ArticleBias, paranoia real U.S. threats
In the wake of the most recent terrorist attacks, the Democratic Party is determined to wage war but not against those who seek to do us irreparable harm. The most fierce and hyperbolic attacks have...
View ArticlePonder leadership in foreign country
Ruth Marcus said in her Jan. 10 column that she wants to abolish the America-born rule for presidents. I have a question: What if an American wanted to lead another country? The screams of politically...
View ArticleUse defense funds to benefit nation
Well done on the editorial “It is time to close Gitmo,” March 4, but there’s more. The United States has about 800 military bases and installations on foreign territory, including Guantanamo. For...
View ArticleChance for peace all but eliminated
The editorial “Is war now the new peace?” May 30, questioning whether war is the new normal, implying that peace was ever normal for the United States, was feel-good revisionism appropriate for...
View ArticleThe unready Mr. Trump
Donald Trump this week once again did what he has proven himself so adept at over the last year – grabbing the spotlight by saying something so absurd, so unpresidential, the press had no choice but to...
View ArticleDon’t know much about global stuff
For all the importance of international events, from turmoil in the Middle East to Russia’s aggressive stance toward its former empire and the West to North Korea’s growing nuclear capability, young...
View ArticlePeter Henner left truly lasting legacy
The board of the New York Civil Liberties Union’s Capital Region Chapter wishes to express its sadness at the loss of Peter Henner, a decades-long friend of the chapter who served on our board and...
View ArticleSchools in state address shortage
In the commentary “Shortage of doctors treatable,” Oct. 4, the author gets the facts wrong. No New York-based medical school has called for a ban on foreign medical schools’ paid clerkships. But, to be...
View ArticleTrade pact designed for corporate profit
The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, signed by President Barack Obama in February, is the largest trade agreement in history involving 12 Pacific Rim nations and accounting for 40 percent of the...
View ArticleReal danger in cyberspace
When President-elect Donald Trump met with leaders of the nation’s top technology companies this week, everyone in the room should have been feeling some embarrassment. Days earlier it was revealed...
View ArticleElectors need to make an informed vote
The Electoral College was created for a number of reasons, one being to prevent foreign intrusion in the election of the president of the United States. Alexander Hamilton, a prime mover in the...
View ArticleFill Cabinet with qualified leaders
How our memory fails us. The choice of Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state brings back recent and not-so-recent recollections of big oil connections to poor foreign policies in the...
View ArticleHistory lesson must be heeded
Your Dec. 15 editorial, “Electors, reject Trump,” mentions foreign influence. Might we note that once upon a time in Poland the nobility agreed to vote only for a foreign king. (Yes, kings were elected...
View ArticleForeign interference not a new phenomenon
Blaming Russia for Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump is a bit like a woman blaming the dress for making her look fat. Clinton’s own words made Clinton look bad. Clinton supporters are furious...
View ArticleBeware of next oil boom
Those seemingly endless lines of oil trains streaming into the Port of Albany have been missing in recent months, but the decline may be short-lived, because of some likely big changes in energy policy...
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