As the Obama Administration has discovered, containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism and insurgencies requires more than Washington’s willingness to “extend [its] hand.” As Heritage’s Kim Holmes points out, Iran’s foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador on U.S. soil illustrates that Iran’s leaders don’t fear Barack Obama or the “isolation” his Administration promises. The plot also highlights the disturbing consequences of Obama’s “good cop/confused cop” strategy on Iran. While the Obama Administration continues to maintain that all options remain on the table, Washington’s public downplay of the …
If you listen to Vice President Joe Biden, the most effective way to prevent rape and murder is more federal stimulus spending. In the Vice President’s defense, at least this is a new argument, considering the others—jobs created, bridges built, energy generated—have all miserably failed. But this desperate argument, while fresh, is also incorrect. The Vice President made the remarks first in a speech on Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania, saying additional stimulus would put police on the streets and lower crime, adding that he wished conservative lawmakers “had …
Making him the latest in a long list of Venezuelan politicians denied the ability to challenge Hugo Chavez, Leopoldo López, the former mayor of Chacao, had his presidential hopes dashed this week when the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled that he cannot hold a public office until after 2014 due to pending corruption charges against him that López argues were fabricated in order to impede his campaign. The court maintains that López is not being denied his rights “because it is only an administrative ineligibility and not a political one.” Chief …
Next month, the “super committee” will release its plan to find savings in the federal budget over the next decade. A report from the Senate Finance Committee Republicans outlines a possible route forward and includes reforms to reduce unaffordable federal spending on health care and improve programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Several of the ideas outlined in the report are similar to The Heritage Foundation’s own Saving the American Dream plan to reduce the debt and restore prosperity. The Heritage plan also offers additional details on how to achieve some …
One of the main focuses of the Senate this week has been the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known in this iteration as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Heritage has been at the forefront of the opposition to the massive federal overreach in centralizing Education. Click here to Join us right now for our “Lunch with Heritage” chat. We are joined by Senior Education Policy Analyst Lindsey Burke and she takes your questions about what is in the latest re-authorization, and how Obama wants to re-authorize it. Lunch …
The promises of the “Arab Spring” wilted in many Arab countries during the long, hot summer, and now these nations face uncertain prospects in the autumn. As Tunisia and Egypt take the initial steps toward democratic transition, they face significant challenges, including the need to revive slumping economies, address sectarian tensions, and build transparent and accountable democratic governments. This three-part series provides analysis on six countries affected by the Arab Spring and their prospects for a democratic future. Tunisia Next Sunday, Tunisia, the country that started the Arab Spring, will …
Last week, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee began confirmation hearings for Michael McFaul, nominated as U.S. Ambassador to Russia. McFaul’s statements on U.S.–Russia relations expose the Obama Administration’s failing international strategy as well as disconcerting flaws in the President’s policy toward Russia. McFaul is the architect of the much-publicized U.S.–Russia “reset.” For the Obama Administration, “reset” is simply another chapter in the doctrine of “leading from behind,” which Colin Dueck, a foreign policy scholar and professor at George Mason University, called “a policy of accommodation.” On a few occasions, …
“The missile defense system we are establishing in Europe is not directed against Russia. We have said that publicly and privately, at many levels. We are prepared to put it in writing,” stated Ellen Tauscher, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. This approach is headed in the wrong direction for many reasons and could negatively impact U.S. missile defense program in the future. There is no reason the U.S. missile defense system should not intercept a ballistic missile on its way toward its victims just because …
Yesterday, The Heritage Foundation and the Georgia Family Council co-hosted an event in Atlanta illustrating the profoundly negative consequences of social breakdown in the state and offering some promising solutions to restore human flourishing. At “Breakthrough Georgia: Fighting Poverty and Restoring Society,” Heritage senior research fellow Robert Rector presented Georgia-specific research on child poverty and the role that marriage can play in reducing poverty rates. Today, over 45 percent of births in Georgia are to unmarried mothers. The lack of social and financial stability that accompanies those single-parent households greatly …
Today is John Dewey’s birthday, and though it’s been almost 60 years since this major Progressive figure passed away, thoughtful conservatives should acquaint themselves with his writings, since they had a profound impact on our society. Dewey, who is best known for his work on education’s role in democracy, wrote extensively on numerous topics, including philosophy, psychology, art, and politics during the course of a long academic career at the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University. Dewey’s great themes are progress, democracy, and the experimental method …
