Backsliding on Nuclear Promises
For much of the past six years, President Obama has talked about working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Yet his administration is now investing tens of billions of dollars in modernizing and rebuilding America’s nuclear arsenal and facilities, as The Times reported in detail on Monday. And after good progress in making nuclear bomb material more secure around the world, Mr. Obama has reduced his budget requests for that priority. This is a shortsighted and disappointing turn.
A Generational Challenge
President Obama’s plan for dealing with ISIS is a step in the right direction, albeit one that doesn’t go far enough. That’s because ISIS is the symptom and immediate threat, not the primary problem: The Middle East is a fundamentally ill region, one that has repeatedly exported its problems to the United States and the rest of the world and will continue to do so for decades. Iran’s Islamic revolution, Saddam’s rapacious Iraq, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, and Hamas, the slaughter in Syria, Darfur. The litany goes on.
Secrets Of The Fed Dallas Fed President Interviews Former Federal Reserve Chief Paul Volcker
Former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker thinks a lack of discipline in financial markets and speculative banking investments led to the financial crisis of 2007-08. That’s what he told a roomful of fellow economists and business leaders last night at a global economic conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher led a question-and-answer session with Volcker, who is best known for taming inflation in the 1970s and 1980s and, more recently, helping to pass a federal regulation restricting U.S. banks from making risky investments that could lead to their failure.
Scotland’s No Echoes Europe’s Yes to Grand Coalitions
The union is saved. Alex Salmond, Scotland’s nationalist first minister, has resigned. All the ink spilled on the benefits and costs of an independent Scotland can be consigned to counterfactual history. The only pressing question is the significance – and consequences – of the No vote.
Five Hidden Risks of U.S. Action Against the Islamic State
U.S. President Barack Obama’s four-pronged strategy of air strikes, support to local proxies, defense against the Islamic State’s attacks through intelligence and counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance leaves many unanswered questions. It’s hardly a clear articulation of the sort of long-term, holistic strategy needed to deny the Islamic State the fertile ground it needs to thrive. The approach is fraught with trade-offs, risks, and hidden costs that need to be addressed.
A new oil and gas law for people’s welfare
The oil and gas law (Law No. 22/2001) has been challenged in the Constitutional Court (MK) many times since 2004. The most recent challenge was on Nov. 13, 2012, when the MK ruled that the Upstream Oil and Gas Executive Agency (BP Migas), was unconstitutional.
Jakarta Tiptoes Around Issue of Gas-Rich Islets
RANAI, INDONESIA – The word “sleepy” could have been invented for Ranai, the largest town in Indonesia’s remote and sparsely populated Natuna archipelago.
Made-in-Indonesia Fixation Poses Risks to Widodo Revamp
Indonesian officials are obsessed with a 1950s economic policy that did South America little good.
Indonesia Seen Beating Thailand in Auto Sales Chart of the Day
Indonesia is poised to overtake Thailand as Southeast Asia’s biggest car market for the first time since 2011 as the region’s most-populous nation delivers faster economic growth and greater political stability.
Indonesia’s President Satisfied On Leaving Office
Indonesia's outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Tuesday (Aug 26) he leaves office with a sense of satisfaction after strengthening democracy and the economy during a decade in power.