GUEST COMMENTARY: Election in Pakistan reverberates

Pakistan’s National Assembly elections on May 11 provided a significant victory to Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League-N. Despite violence, turnout was approximately 60 percent. A peaceful power transition to this opposition party means progress from the nation’s history of military coups.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Afghanistan corruption only one part of complex picture

"The first challenge is corruption," Ambassador Bernard Bajolet, representative of France to Afghanistan, stated as he completes this assignment and prepares to return to Paris for another post. Diplomats are generally paid to be discreet, polished and smooth – in short, diplomatic.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Taiwan’s positive economic role increases

In pursuing current events as in playing cards, evaluating the wider atmosphere is as important as studying the specific hand one has been dealt.

GUEST COMMENTARY: North Korea tantrums underscore South Korea’s success

North Korea’s propaganda reference to the "venomous swish" of the skirt of South Korea President Park Geun-hye is loaded with symbolism, mostly unintended.

GUEST COMMENTARY: North Korea’s leader substitutes tantrums for policy

"A real and clear danger," is how U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel described North Korea on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and South Korea Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se have held a joint press conference in Washington to emphasize military and security partnership.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Israel’s olive branch to Turkey indicates smart strategy

On March 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel reached out the hand of peace by telephoning Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to apologize. Often belligerent "Bibi" Netanyahu was making amends for the notorious incident in 2010, when Israeli armed forces boarded a Turkish shi…

GUEST COMMENTARY: The Arctic, melting ice and ancient issues

"What about the rest of the North?" asked McGeorge Bundy, president of the Ford Foundation, back in the 1970s while considering yet one more grant to help the troubled Native Americans of Alaska.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Lingering Cold War legacy in Cuba is fading

Cuba’s President Raul Castro has made notable news by announcing on Feb. 24 that he will retire from that office in 2018. His older brother Fidel stepped down from the same post in 2008, after turning 85 years of age.

GUEST COMMENTARY: U.S. still standing, pursuing S&P

"I am shocked, shocked to find … gambling …" This famous line of the cynical Captain Renault to night club manager Rick in the film classic "Casablanca" comes to mind in reflecting on the practices of American credit rating agencies.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Obama’s second term provides opportunity for reflection

The start of the New Year, and also of President Barack Obama’s second term, is a good time to pause for perspective on the sources of the current political constellation in our country. To help understand the recent national electoral success of Obama and the Democratic Party, study Al Smith.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Recognize past realities on MLK Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday provides occasion for reflection as well as recognition. We honor his personal courage as well as political impact as catalyst for the civil rights revolution.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The Grinch didn't steal Christmas, and other good news

"Nattering nabobs of negativism," is probably the most enduring of the many alliterative announcements of Spiro Agnew, vice president in the Nixon administration until forced to resign because of corruption.

GUEST COMMENTARY: North Korea missile launch latest in ongoing provocations

Wednesday's successful launch of a space satellite by North Korea is cause for concern, but no sign of a basic strategic shift -- yet. Nonetheless, a tough response with teeth is required by the world community.

GUEST COMMENTARY: The East Asia Summit, world trade and world peace

Cambodia, scene of the killing fields of genocide less than four decades ago, has just hosted the seventh East Asia Summit, which brought together leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, plus Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and the U.S. The summit concluded Tuesday, on a…

GUEST COMMENTARY: The ordeal of David Petraeus and us

Just-resigned CIA head David Petraeus occupies a crucial crossroads. This does not refer to the global media glare now seeking to dissect every aspect of his private life, in excruciating detail.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Sandy, humanitarian relief and American tradition

Cyclone Sandy was technically downgraded from hurricane status just before striking the U.S., but remains highly disruptive. Both the Obama and Romney presidential campaigns temporarily suspended their frenetic activity. In part, this reflected the practical impossibility of moving through t…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Cuban missile crisis lessons continue

October is the scary month, and not just because of Halloween. Exactly one-half century ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis during Oct. 22-28 dominated global news as Washington and Moscow sparred right on the edge of thermonuclear war.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Obama-Romney debate important but not decisive

"Are you better off?" Ronald Reagan rhetorically asked the audience during his 1980 debate with President Jimmy Carter. President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney should each take a lesson from Reagan’s performance.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Ryan pick can help republic, Republicans – if they’re smart

‘We want to make sure that we preserve and protect Medicare,’ Mitt Romney declared Aug. 13 in Florida, a crucial state where senior citizens are numerous.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Financial scandals aid and abet continuing turmoil

“Greed … is good,” declared corrupt out of control investment banker Gordon Gekko in the hit film “Wall Street.” However, The Bible, Shakespeare and other influential sources argue to the contrary.