All Opinion

Afghan women are concerned that, as the withdrawal of US troops nears, their gains of the last 12 years will be sacrificed in a peace deal with the Taliban, or that they will simply be forgotten. The international community, particularly the US and Europe, must not let this happen.

One-third of Syria’s population has been displaced, and more than 2 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Syria's civil war has affected millions more people than the Indian Ocean tsunami or Haiti earthquake, but aid to Syria pales in comparison. The world must step up.

In Nigeria, where the Islamist militant group Boko Haram is sowing terror, an imam and a pastor team up to preach religious tolerance. The two men are former leaders of militias that once battled each other. Then they discovered forgiveness. Now, their story is a tool of persuasion.

On the anniversary of JFK's assassination, the world should heed his call for religious freedom. It is the best way to counter religious extremism in places such as Pakistan, where the Taliban has chosen a new leader, as it compels intolerant forms of religion to face competing beliefs.

Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe's victory in yesterday's election does not mean that strong conservatives like his opponent Ken Cuccinelli are doomed in competitive races. And Governor Chris Christie’s re-election in New Jersey doesn't guarantee that he will be in the White House.

Winning over House Republicans based on Senate pressure and worry over the Latino vote won’t work. The case for reform must be argued on its merits.

To hear Congress tell it, their constituents are demanding they take extreme positions and not compromise. But as I see it from Dallas, Texas, where I’m a blue liberal in a sea of red, regular working people have no problem cooperating with those who hold opposing views.

Republicans are learning: Latino voters are a rising force to be reckoned with. High turnout of Latino voters at state and local elections today will increase pressure on the House GOP to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Aslyum-seekers and refugees are a forgotten group in the US immigration debate. A new report shows that once in the US, they can encounter shackles, numbing cold, confusion, and indefinite detention. They deserve far better treatment.

Some in Congress want to impose additional punitive sanctions on Iran. These are unnecessary and could scuttle the diplomatic process and strengthen Iranian hardliners. The proven strategy now is to offer partial relief from sanctions as an incentive to encourage Iranian concessions.

American adults have turned Halloween into a commercial extravaganza. The sexy-costume trend for girls, even for toddlers, reveals how far we have strayed from the roots of Halloween, which used to be a time for kids to challenge their elders.

Many school shootings, such as last week's at Sparks Middle School in Nevada, involve a child taking a gun from home to school. A concerted effort must be made to improve gun safety at home, to research why kids kill with guns, and to pass parental-liability laws.

Demonstrations in Latin America show just how far societies have come, and how much further they must go to meet the expectations that come with rising incomes. A healthy, middle-class society requires reliable, quality public services – not just income growth. 

After revelations that the NSA has spied on its allies in Europe, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it's worth considering: Is this just a tricky moment for President Obama, or is it a harbinger of a broader trend of waning US influence, even over its allies?

Many Americans who want less government are willing to use any means to thwart what they see as an un-Constitutional expansion of government’s reach. The ongoing debate over Obamacare is just the latest issue to get in the middle of a centuries-old argument.

No state has yet found a perfect solution to gerrymandering – the partisan drawing of voting districts that favors parties and incumbents. But reform efforts in states and cities point to an answer: independent redistricting commissions that rely on public input for drawing maps.

The next test for Turkey's democracy will be how it weathers 'the new normal' of slower economic growth. Because Turkey’s fundamentals are in order, its prospects seem quite positive, says Ali Babacan, deputy prime minister for the economy.

Americans have been told that 'fracking' for natural gas and oil is the key to their energy independent future. The data don't adequately support these claims. America must return its energy focus to transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Oil and gas production through 'fracking' and horizontal drilling will improve US energy security – and support US foreign policy. This development should be encouraged. The reasonable response to environmental and health concerns is sensible regulation, not wholesale bans.

Those in the West commonly believe that economic growth and a burgeoning middle class in China will lead to democratic reform. But research on China’s middle class shows its lack of opposition to the Communist regime as well as some support for the party-state.