People in Need of a Safe Haven: The Struggle to Help Afghan Refugees

The Afghan people are suffering today from both the Taliban’s repressive rule and international economic penalties imposed on their nation. The United States can help Afghans by reducing the penalties on Afghanistan, as well as by giving refugees fleeing Taliban rule a safe haven within its borders.[1] Various legal routes to refuge are theoretically available … Continue reading People in Need of a Safe Haven: The Struggle to Help Afghan Refugees →

A War That No One Will Win: The Violence in Israel and Palestine

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has erupted into a terrible new wave of violence. To date, thousands of people, including over 1,500 Palestinians and over 1,200 people in Israel, have been killed. Thousands more have been injured.[1] If not stopped, the violence seems destined to escalate to ever-more-devastating levels. The Attack The violence began October 7, when … Continue reading A War That No One Will Win: The Violence in Israel and Palestine →

Lifting a Terrible Burden: The Need to End Sanctions on Afghanistan

More than two years after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the Afghan people’s situation remains dire. The Taliban’s rule continues to be highly repressive and to fall particularly hard on women. The country is also facing a humanitarian crisis, with over half its people living below the poverty line and some 15 million lacking adequate … Continue reading Lifting a Terrible Burden: The Need to End Sanctions on Afghanistan →

The Niger Crisis: A Coup That Could Turn into a War

Niger was thrown into a crisis this summer when the country’s military overthrew its democratically elected president on July 26.[1] This coup has prompted threats of intervention from other countries in the region, with different countries supporting either the overthrown president or the military. The crisis even risks leading to intervention by France or the … Continue reading The Niger Crisis: A Coup That Could Turn into a War →

“Never Again”: Taking Action against the Nuclear Threat

The following is adapted from remarks given at the Vigil to End the Nuclear Danger, a peace witness outside the White House on August 12, 2023. The vigil was co-sponsored by the American Solidarity Party of DC and Maryland, the Consistent Life Network, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, and Rehumanize International. We are here today to … Continue reading “Never Again”: Taking Action against the Nuclear Threat →

The Danger of Russian Instability: The Wagner Group Uprising and Its Significance

The brief uprising in Russia by members of the Wagner Group private security force was a warning. It was a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin about how potentially fragile his regime is. It was also a warning to western nations and the rest of the world about how Russia can spin dangerously out of … Continue reading The Danger of Russian Instability: The Wagner Group Uprising and Its Significance →

A Cause of Prejudice at Home? The Dangers of Anti-China Attitudes

US-China relations have continued to deteriorate this year. Issues ranging from Taiwan, to the presence of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the United States, to TikTok’s China ties have elevated tensions between the two countries.[1]Tensions between the United States and China are dangerous not only because they increase the risk of international conflict but … Continue reading A Cause of Prejudice at Home? The Dangers of Anti-China Attitudes →

The Logic of Escalation: Nuclear Threats in Belarus and South Korea

Twice this year, within the span of roughly a month, two powerful nations issued threats based on their nuclear weapons arsenals. The first was Russia, which is stationing nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus and training Belarusians in how to use them.[1] The second was the United States, which is sending a nuclear-armed submarine to South … Continue reading The Logic of Escalation: Nuclear Threats in Belarus and South Korea →

A Mission That Has Gone on for Too Long: The US Military Presence in Syria

A US contractor was killed by a drone attack in northeastern Syria earlier this spring.[1] The drone, which US officials identified as of Iranian origin, also wounded several US troops. In response, the United States launched airstrikes against Iranian-linked forces in Syria, killing an undetermined number of people (estimates vary).[2] The Iran-linked militants retaliated with … Continue reading A Mission That Has Gone on for Too Long: The US Military Presence in Syria →

Overlooked Conflicts: Anarchy and Agony in Haiti

Although the war between Ukraine and Russia has dominated the news, other countries have been suffering through their own violent conflicts in recent years. In this and future pieces, I will highlight contemporary wars and other conflicts that are too often overlooked. NOTE: This piece discusses sexual violence and other human rights violations. Haiti is … Continue reading Overlooked Conflicts: Anarchy and Agony in Haiti →