The Baines Report
Originally published by the U.S. News & World Report. As the Obama administration ramped up its war against the Islamic State group last week, I was visiting Israel with a bipartisan group of 12 leaders from Washington think tanks. During meetings with a variety of current and former Israeli government and military officials, as well […]
Thursday evening, the LBJ School welcomed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John R. Bolton for a spirited and comprehensive speech on global policy in Bass Lecture Hall. Ambassador Bolton, who served in senior positions in both Bush Administrations as well as the Reagan Administration, offered a vigorous critique of the Obama Administration’s foreign […]
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lyndon Baines Johnson’s victory in the 1964 presidential election. Our school’s namesake won 44 states, leaving Republican challenger Barry Goldwater with only six. LBJ’s victory was one of our country’s most lopsided presidential elections—but many believe Goldwater’s defeat was also the most consequential loss in American history. The 1964 […]
China’s announcement last week that it would “ease” its one-child policy received significant attention from the American media. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will now allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. Tweaking a policy that by definition violates human rights, however, deserves little praise. Amending the one-child policy […]
Those hoping for a debate on foreign policy during the final presidential face-off may have been disappointed last week. Both candidates continually circled back to domestic issues, defaulting to talking points on education and the auto bailout. Detroit and Ohio were topics of conversation alongside Beijing and Iran. Voters who watched the last debate […]
The U.S. election year can be a frustrating time for foreign policy wonks. This is especially true in 2012, when both presidential campaigns are laser-focused on issues of the economy and jobs. Tonight’s debate is sure to feature a question or two on international affairs, but the answers will likely matter more to policy elites […]
This summer’s major constitutional news was the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of President Obama’s health care law. Millions of Americans disagreed with the decision, but all agreed that the decision was final—the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter of constitutionality. But for six million people in a tiny nation in Central America, this summer […]