Combined Destiny Here's the problem: Serious intellectual narrowing can happen to even the brightest folk once nested down on the East Coast.
Obamas Asian Experience BEVERLY HILLS Let me explain why the Asian political experience, at least since the eighties, offers us insight into the triumph of Barack H. Obama. It starts with a simple idea: the key role of a middle class in a democracy.
An Election to Remember BEVERLY HILLS The weight of the entire world will soon sit ominously on the shoulders of the elected successor to President George W. Bush.
Colin Powells Warning It was a revealing moment in American politics. In endorsing Barack Obama for president of the United States over fellow Republican John McCain, Colin Powell was not simply giving his blessing to this candidate. That was the easy part.
US Leader and World ``Americans are angry," said John McCain, while debating with opponent Barack Obama, in their last scheduled face-to-face televised debate confrontation, ``and they have every reason to be angry."
Pope and Crisis BEVERLY HILLS, California Should we even be listening to religious leaders when they opine on the financial crisis?
Bernankian Instinct BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Ben S. Bernanke, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, may be dead wrong about the urgent need for the proposed $700 billion this former professor and his buddy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, have been ped..
Is He Better Dead or Alive? BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. War, natural disaster and stupid manmade accidents are always but a snap of the fingers away.
Political Turmoil in Japan BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. These days, when a Japanese Prime Minister resigns, the temptation is to say just two things. One is ``ho," and the other is ``hum."
Biden Can Lighten Obamas Load BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. There is an obvious symbolic plus for the world in general and Asia in particular in the Joe Biden story. It is that his selection by Sen. Barack Obama as his White House running mate reaffirms the mushrooming sense in the ..
Right, Nobody Asked Me, but ... BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Some thoughts about the political state of America and Asia . Nobody asked me for my views but here they are, anyway!
Importance of Olympics BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. There's one huge under-appreciated plus about the Summer Olympics Games in China. They will bring an important part of Asia into the American living room day after day and night after night.
Guide to Watching Olympics BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. In reality, the Summer Olympics that open on August 8 create three different categories of events. It's important to understand this.
Compromise Within Civilizations BEVERLY HILLS Sometimes news stories that in the end turn out to be historically pivotal get mentioned in but tiny little headlines at first look.
Golfers and Diplomats BEVERLY HILLS, California Koreans have no monopoly on the need to save face, of course. Name a country or a nationality or a personality that enjoys public humiliation and you will have an example of a terribly messed-up state, society or human ..
Without Beating Around Bush LOS ANGELES We in the West are of course always extremely grateful and utterly relieved when our neighbors in East Asia manage to take significant steps away from the risk of serious conflict in their region.
Taiwan Has Winner LOS ANGELES Not every election has significant international repercussions, to be sure. Some are scarcely noteworthy even in the places where they occur. But last March there was a monster-piece of an election in East Asia, and earlier last week..
