Over the weekend, Chicago public schools failed to meet the Chicago Teachers Union demands of better pay and job security. Teachers work just as hard as anyone else and deserve respect and fair treatment. However, demanding job security – a wish every other working American desires – is delusional. When these demands were not met, public school teachers went on strike yesterday and have prevented about 350,000 students from entering school. Continue reading “Radical Reform Needed for Chicago Public Schools”
Tag: United States
Weekend Thinking: The DNC and West Bank
The third and final day of the Democratic National Convention concluded yesterday evening with a speech by incumbent President Barack Obama. The economy and job creation were the themes of Obama’s speech along with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. More than 20 million Americans are unemployed and more than 40 million rely on Food Stamps. It comes as no surprise that this is the leading issue for voters. Foreign policy, the war in Afghanistan and the global threat of Al-Qaeda was barely mentioned. Continue reading “Weekend Thinking: The DNC and West Bank”
Dajani: Morsi Beyond the Islamist Identity
Mohammed S. Dajani Daoudi writes in a guest column for Levantine Routes
For the next decade, think tanks in the United States and Europe will be analyzing why an Islamist won the Egyptian presidential elections. To save them the trouble, I will give them the simple answer: the Egyptian voters did not vote for Mohammed Morsi as an individual or for his election platform. They did not watch his interviews to see where he stands on the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, women, Christians, etc. Continue reading “Dajani: Morsi Beyond the Islamist Identity”
The Rebels in Post-Assad Syria
Published in Wikistrat on Aug. 3, 2012.
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has been away from the public eye since a spectacular suicide bombing attack rocked Damascus, killing the defense minister and other key officials. Unconfirmed reports stated Assad has fled the capital; either to his Alawite stronghold in Latakia or to his erstwhile ally Russia. His whereabouts have become the case of further speculation after he praised his troops not in a public address or even a pre-audio recording, but in the magazine of the armed forces. Continue reading “The Rebels in Post-Assad Syria”
Expect More Violence, Not Democracy Transition, In Post-Assad Syria
When I wrote in a previous post that Assad may deploy chemical weapons against the Syrian opposition in revenge for the July 18 bombing in Damascus, it is equally important to emphasize this type of violence could also occur in a post-Assad Syria. Continue reading “Expect More Violence, Not Democracy Transition, In Post-Assad Syria”
Give Palestinian Third Parties a Chance
Published in the Daily Beast on July 26, 2012.
No, Dani Dayan, the status quo in the West Bank cannot continue.
I’ll leave it to other commentators to explain why this is the case on the Israeli side. But when it comes to the Palestinian side, it’s time to consider alternatives to Fatah and Hamas—they’re not all we’ve got.
Hamas and Fatah aren’t making Obama’s promise of democratic transition in the Arab world a reality, it might be time for all of us—Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans—to consider third party alternatives. Continue reading “Give Palestinian Third Parties a Chance”
Jordanians and Palestinians at a New Crossroad
Published in the Huffington Post on Apr. 18, 2012.
In the past decade, the Jordanian government has initiated a controversial policy of rescinding the citizenship of thousands of Palestinians. On April 12, Jordan announced it will also invalidate the passports of Palestinians affiliated with the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization. This harsh action has had little public outcry or opposition. There has been little if any threatening reaction from Palestinians and these reports have gone largely unnoticed in Western media. Continue reading “Jordanians and Palestinians at a New Crossroad”
Taking Advantage of the Calm Before the Storm
Published in the Huffington Post on Jan. 31, 2012.
Last week, I asserted that it was unlikely that the Israelis and Palestinians would achieve a diplomatic breakthrough by January 26. The history of failed bilateral negotiations shows that it may be time to try a novel and multilateral approach advocated by the Arab Peace Initiative. Continue reading “Taking Advantage of the Calm Before the Storm”
Michael Sharnoff, PhD 