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  • American Leadership

    Restore the United States as an influential and respected world leader, build coalitions with allies who respect political and economic freedom, and counter threats to our national sovereignty from opponents who operate through the United Nations and other international bodies.

    Former U.S. Marine Arrested in Mexico for Possession of Family Heirloom

    Why is the Obama Administration not doing more to free a former Marine from a Mexican prison? Twenty-seven-year-old Jon Hammar—a former Marine Lance Corporal and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—is attracting increasing congressional and media attention. Hammar was arrested by Mexican authorities on August 13 when he … More

    How a Video of a Tunisian Fruit Seller Changed Middle East History

    Two years ago this week, the tragic suicide of a young Tunisian fruit seller set in motion events that roiled the Arab world and changed history. Twenty-seven-year-old Mohammed Bouazizi from the town of Sidi Bouzid had been struggling to feed his family and found his only means of doing so, … More

    Don’t Do It, Shinzo Abe!

    Japan’s incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has an unenviable task. While Mr. Abe may prove to be exactly what the country needs in terms of foreign policy, his economic promises mirror the policies that have mired Japan in two decades of stagnation. Mr. Abe has made headlines promising more aggressive … More

    Morning Bell: What’s at Stake in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Hollywood actor Ben Affleck brings his star power to Congress today to testify on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its implications for the United States. Affleck will be joined at the hearing by Heritage’s James Jay Carafano, who will explain why the Obama … More

    WATCH LIVE: Congressional Hearing on Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Today at 10 a.m. the House Armed Services Committee will host a hearing on the evolving instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the implications for national security. Heritage’s Jim Carafano, Ph.D., vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, will provide testimony on the Obama administration’s … More

    Japanese Conservative Victory: A Welcome Development for the U.S.

    In Japan, the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) exceeded even the most optimistic predictions by winning a landslide victory in Sunday’s lower house election. LDP Leader Shinzo Abe’s conservative foreign policy views and the Japanese public’s growing concern over China provide an excellent opportunity for Washington to achieve several policy … More

    Kerry in Spotlight; Hot Issues Remain for Next Secretary of State

    Last week, embattled U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice took herself out of the running for Secretary of State as Hillary Clinton’s successor. It did not take long for the rumor mill to pick up that President Obama is leaning toward Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for the post. Though Rice did not … More

    Chavez’s Authoritarian Regime Sweeps Governorships

    One week after Hugo Chavez stunned his nation with news of new cancer surgery and anointed Vice President and Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro as his heir, Venezuelans went to the polls to elect 23 governors and members of state legislatures. Initial electoral results indicate that Chavez’s candidates won in 20 … More

    U.S. Makes Right Call on U.N. Internet Treaty

    Governments eager to use the recently concluded International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference to bolster their efforts to censor and govern the Internet successfully inserted a provision to aid their cause. Although the Obama Administration is known to support most international treaties, this proved to be a bridge too far. As … More

    Deficit Spending and Debt: Lessons from Japan

    Deficit spending does not foster economic recovery. The U.S. and the world need to recognize the stagnation and inter-generational inequality caused by such spending, and for reference, they need not look further than Japan’s recent history of deficits. In addition to its two lost decades, Japan’s heavy borrowing means the … More