With the Kony 2012 video about the abuses of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony making its way through the Internet, more people than ever are aware of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), a ruthless insurgency that has operated in central Africa for decades. Unfortunately, the Kony 2012 video has done little to foster a real understanding of why the LRA uses such extreme violence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been lambasted by the media, Congress and the gun lobby in the wake of the failed Operation Fast and Furious. It is the most criticized law enforcement agency in the United States today and yet has one of the most important, necessary and difficult briefs. It must enforce firearm laws in the United States, a country with an emotionally charged tradition of gun ownership. Continue Reading
While oil money constitutes an overwhelming majority of the Alaska’s revenue — 92 percent in 2011 — hydrocarbon development brings with it significant challenges. Scientists estimate the Arctic warms twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Nowhere is… Continue Reading
Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, honorary chair of the Baker Institute, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sat down with journalist Charlie Rose on June 20 for a wide-ranging conversation on U.S. foreign policy. Baker said that the biggest threat to America right now isn’t Iran or China, but the need to “get our economic house in order.” Clinton agreed, saying that much of her time as secretary of state is spent “reassuring” government and business leaders that the U.S. economy is improving. Continue Reading
On Monday, June 4, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and the city’s five district attorneys announced their support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in public view. Cuomo touted his proposal as a matter of racial justice, noting that police “were wasting time, resources and goodwill making tens of thousands of unnecessary arrests,” disproportionately targeting blacks and Latinos. Continue Reading
We have grown accustomed to the role of large companies, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in successful space launches. But with the nearly flawless debut of SpaceX, and with the arrival of other smaller companies on the scene, we are again seeing the benefits of competition, as new companies bring innovation, flexibility and, more importantly, reduced costs to space operations. Continue Reading
The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy recently invited a number of leading thinkers — from varied sides of the political spectrum — to come to Houston for a free public symposium to consider the role of religion in our elections. Watch a video of the Jan. 25, 2012, event after the jump. Continue Reading