All The Monitor's View
Colombia's breakthrough for peace and justiceA key agreement to achieve a final peace balances the need to end Colombia’s long civil war with meting out some justice for those who admit war crimes and affirm civil rights and peaceful means.
Europe’s hopes for fewer Greek tax dodgersIn a key election, Greeks returned Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to power knowing he must implement one vital reform demanded by the EU: a curb on tax evasion. This will take more than tough enforcement.
The road ahead for VW after its emissions deceptionNow that the world knows of Volkswagen’s deception about the emissions of its diesel cars, it should follow the model of reform of another German engineering giant, Siemens, after it was caught in a corruption scandal.
Why Syrian refugees don’t flee to Islamic State caliphateThe image of Syrians escaping to the West undercuts just one of Islamic State’s false narratives. The group’s many errors are eroding its allure, say defectors, hastening its demise. Containment by the West may be as effective as drones.
Next up as a region of peace: AsiaAs China and Japan shift their military postures, Asia must follow other regions that seek to become ‘zones of peace.’ It has a model in ASEAN, a body in Southeast Asia that for decades has presumed peace as the norm.
Merkel as ‘mother’ to a European conscienceGerman leader Angela Merkel keeps rising in moral authority with each new crisis: Greece, Ukraine, and now a flood of refugees. Ever mindful of its nationalist past, Germany finds a role in uniting Europe around universal values.
Syrian refugees as Trojan horse for Islamic State?In Europe and the US, many leaders stoke fears of Syrian refugees as hiding Islamic State fighters. Not only is this fear unfounded but it only helps IS in its recruitment.
Why new democracies still need foreign poll-watchersMyanmar’s welcoming of foreign election observers for its Nov. 8 vote reflects the progress in setting international norms for free and fair voting.
A calm center for the immigration debateEmotions are running high in Europe and the US about migrants or refugees. There is a way to keep a civil discourse.
College football: Don’t pander to bettorsESPN’s ‘cover alerts’ tie college sports ever closer to gambling.
Getting personal with corporate crimeThe US Justice Department plans to favor prosecution of individual wrongdoers over the levying of corporate fines.
Europe’s migrant challengeNot all countries may be able to benefit from the influx of newcomers; but all of Europe must share the load.
A still relevant monarchAs Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain's longest-serving monarch her reign seems to be enjoying a renaissance.
Fearless Guatemala's lessons for Latin AmericaPeaceful protests that helped oust the Guatemalan president set a template for rejecting the fears that keep corruption in place. Seven months of a popular rising also showed the power of shared ideals in demanding honest governance.
China’s voice in the global operaAs Chinese leader Xi Jinping holds a summit with President Obama and takes command of the G20, he must also define what values China offers as it tries to reshape the international system.
New ways to protect the innocent in warAs the nature of war changes, the International Committee of the Red Cross is struggling to ensure compliance with the humanitarian principles of the Geneva Conventions. Even the most extreme militants must be convinced of the need to protect civilians.
Seeing Ukraine as an opportunityA renewed cease-fire, debt restructuring, and more reforms are helping transform Ukraine from a crisis into an opportunity for Europe.
The global call for more border wallsDonald Trump’s promise of a secure wall on the US-Mexican border reflects a trend in many nations to fortify their boundaries. A better course lies in more cooperation between countries and tackling root causes of perceived border threats.
Saying ‘rubbish’ in Lebanon to politics by faithA garbage-pickup crisis has sparked protests aimed at fixing a government stalemated for too long by the attempt to balance religious rivalry. Lebanon may set an example in the Mideast for government based on individual equality regardless of faith.
North Korea’s old ruse faltersNorth Korea’s latest violent provocation of South Korea ended with an agreement that appears to break an old pattern. The South may have learned how to deal with the North’s attempts to intimidate.
