Over the last three years, members of this bipartisan group have convened regularly under the auspices of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy to discuss the status of the Iran nuclear issue, frequently benefitting from the input of current Administration officials. Last week, at its most recent meeting, the group determined that it could usefully contribute to the public debate on the ongoing negotiations by presenting its consensus view of critical issues.This statement reflects that broad consensus.
The Iran nuclear deal is not done. Negotiations continue. The target deadline is June 30. We know much about the emerging agreement. Most of us would have preferred a stronger agreement.
The agreement will not prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapons capability. It will...
Politics
Dear Mr. Donald Trump,
Though I've never been one to write open letters - much less to aspiring politicians - after listening to your presidential announcement speech, I felt compelled to address a few points you made. Before I begin, though, I'll reiterate some of the things you said, just in case they have, for whatever reason, left your mind:
Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore. We used to have victories - but we don't have them. When was the last time someone saw us beating, let's say China, in a trading deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time...When do we beat Mexico, at the border? They're laughing at us, at our stupidity. And now they're beating us economically. They are not our friends, believe me, but they're killing us economically...
2,804
June 30, 2015
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Mr. President,
Your office has recently announced that you will travel to Ethiopia for bilateral meetings with the Government of Ethiopia and with the leadership of the African Union in an efforts to work with the countries and citizens of sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security. I welcome the intent of your visit to my country. However, I am deeply concerned by what kind of message your visit will send to the people of Ethiopia.
Mr. President, You have done us all black people proud when you become the first black president of the most powerful nation in the planet. During your first visit to Africa, you...
3,275
June 30, 2015
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Mr. President,
Your office has recently announced that you will travel to Ethiopia for bilateral meetings with the Government of Ethiopia and with the leadership of the African Union in an efforts to work with the countries and citizens of sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security. I welcome the intent of your visit to my country. However, I am deeply concerned by what kind of message your visit will send to the people of Ethiopia.
Mr. President, You have done us all black people proud when you become the first black president of the most powerful nation in the planet. During your first visit to Africa, you...
3,152
Khaila Montgomery
Mascoutah, IL 62258
An Open Letter:
There is a silent genocide occurring within the United States. One that has been happening since 1619, when it was decided that black people were less than. Stolen from our homeland, we were scattered throughout the Diaspora under a new name—slaves. We were told that we were less than the white man through media images, rhetoric, and the application of justice. Although the laws have changed, the images, rhetoric and applications of justice have not.
This is the black Holocaust. The pigmented skin of black bodies is our David’s Star. This is the Holocaust no one will remember because it is happening so gradually. But all the signs are there. Prisons have become our death camps. Those lucky enough to live outside the...
2,779
Ladies,
Turkey’s newly-elected 98 female parliamentarians who have taken their oaths as of June 23,
Don’t forget you are women.
You don’t have to think and act like a man in what you might perceive to be a male-dominated world.
I am not sure whether you have entered parliament saying you will only represent women.
In fact, that might sound unfair to think of yourselves as the representatives of half a nation.
You might think of yourselves as representatives of the entire Turkish nation.
Continue to do so. But don’t forget that nothing, no subject that you will invest your time and energy into in parliament, can contribute better than your work for women for the general good of the country. Investing in women will mean investing in a peaceful society, in democracy;...
5,410
America has spent so much time, money...
3,290
Dear Mr Junker,
I am addressing this to you, because I do believe from what I read in the news, that you are indeed a friend of the Greek people. However, this is an open letter to any and all of Greece’s lenders.
I am a 30 year old Greek man, born and raised in Greece, but studied abroad when I was 18. Since I was young, I had this sense of pride for my country (perhaps through “propaganda” at school). Greece, has its roots in ancient times, cradle of western civilisation, birthplace of democracy, philosophers, mathematicians, sculptors, architects etc etc.
Later we were told of how resilient the Greek people have been during the world wars: Hitler said that of all the nations Germany fought, the Greeks were the bravest and most gallant, and out of admiration he ordered the...
2,864
I take my beloved dog George with me almost everywhere I go. Once, George even shared the stage with me on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
The bond I have with George is not unique. Like me, countless Canadians share their homes and lives with pets they consider to be part of the family. We know that they have individual personalities and quirks (George loves apples, for example) and that they feel both physical and mental pain.
Pigs, specifically, outperform even chimpanzees on some tests of cognitive prowess.
So of course these animals also deserve our care and attention. That’s why I was so heartened to learn that Canada is taking steps toward improving the treatment of animals in the food supply.
Specifically, Canada’s National Farm Animal Care Council, which sets...
3,638
With just over one week left for New York state lawmakers to act before the end of this year's legislative session on June 17, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined forces with Lady Gaga and co-written an op-ed, given exclusively to Billboard, pledging support for his comprehensive sexual assault policy at the state's public college campuses.
Cuomo introduced legislation in February to make this policy apply to all of New York's campuses, including private universities, and launched the Enough Is Enough campaign in support of the bill. Gaga revealed in a December 2014 interview with Howard Stern that she was a victim of sexual assault by a producer roughly 20 years her senior when she was 19 and has become vocal on the issue. (The song "Swine" from her ARTPOP album was inspired by...
3,168