opinions

“The Significance of the French Elections for U.S. Policies — and U.S. Problems”?
Arthur I. Cyr
The election of French free market presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy has been welcomed by many Americans, including the Bush White House. The assumption that this leader of the political right in France is automatically right for U.S. interests is commonly held — and wrong.

The parliamentary elections in Turkey Turkey Facts on Sunday have resulted in a very decisive victory for the ruling moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (generally referred to by the Turkish initials AKP), as well as a very valuable opportunity for United States foreign policy. The Iraq war has been particularly threatening to the traditionally close relations between Ankara and Washington.

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“Local and Global: The Unavoidable Connection — and Interconnection”?
by Arthur I. Cyr
“All politics is local,”? was a favorite phrase of Tip O’NeillO'NeillBio, a notably successful politician and Speaker of the U.S. House of RepresentativesU.S.House. Today, a complementary statement could be “All economics is global.”? The international economy regularly provides enormous new challenges to preserving the distinctiveness — and independence — of local community. One consequence is to underscore the importance of looking beyond the locality.

“Fourth of July — Reflection and Renewal”?
by Arthur I. Cyr
The Fourth of July celebrates community, local as well as national. Parades featuring people in uniform - scouts, firefighters and police as well as the military and others — traditionally are a fixture. Military uniforms remind us of the role of war in our history — and our present.

“Balance of Power Politics and the Korean Peninsula”?
by Arthur I. Cyr
The decision to open North Korea’s nuclear facility to United Nations inspection may prove to be more than just another move in an endless game of chicken. Over the years, Pyongyang has become masterful at creating crises by approaching the brink of war, only to step back, usually in return for substantial economic concessions.