By Lee H. Hamilton Is the United States the greatest nation in the world? It’s a natural question to ask, given our penchant for displays of patriotism and our debates about American exceptionalism. But I don’t much like the question. Talking about how American greatness isn’t a very helpful exercise. It doesn’t do anything to… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton We can no longer pretend that climate change is just a theory or that it’s a problem for the future. From deadly fires in Hawaii to devastating floods in the Northeast to record heat waves across much of the country, we see constant reminders of what a warming climate can do…. Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton This month’s Camp David summit of the leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea brought welcome positive news in the world of foreign policy. It’s likely to pass quickly from the headlines, as good news often does, but it’s worth celebrating. President Joe Biden hosted Yoon Suk Yeol, the… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Americans are pessimistic about our democracy, according to a recent poll. It’s a worrisome finding. Of course, it’s easy to watch the news and conclude our government isn’t working. But we must not get to the point where we think we can’t solve our problems in a democratic fashion. That’s a… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Israeli President Isaac Herzog celebrated the “sacred bond” between the United States and Israel when he spoke to a joint session of Congress last month. But recent developments have tested that bond as rarely before in Israel’s 75-year history. On July 24, Israel’s parliament approved the first phase in Prime Minister… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton All eyes were on NATO last week as leaders of its member nations met in Lithuania to debate key issues, including their response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. That marked quite a change – a positive one — in the status of the 74-year-old organization. Just a few years ago critics… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Recent events in Russia have been surprising, even shocking. When the private army employed by Russia’s Wagner Group left Ukraine and moved toward Moscow last month, it caught everyone by surprise. We’re used to thinking of Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a dictator who has complete control of his country. Maybe… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton I wrote recently about international leaders, world-changing figures like Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev. Today I want to give credit to women and men I worked with in the U.S. Congress. Some are well-known and some aren’t, but all served their constituents energetically. Some were Democrats and some were Republicans. Some… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton Nelson Mandela would walk into a room, and it would light up immediately. He had an eye-catching smile and a compelling, captivating personality. He exemplified charisma. In meetings and discussions, he would insist on shaking hands with everyone before starting business. He was one of the most remarkable figures I met… Read more »
By Lee H. Hamilton All eyes have been on the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks as politicians and pundits assess the impact of changing rules for who can enter the United States. But the fixation on the border can distract from a bigger problem: America’s immigration system hasn’t kept up with the times. We need… Read more »