Up Front

Battle over gay rights

Officials should abolish 'don't ask, don't tell' policy

It was a milestone for gay and lesbian rights when the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified Tuesday before Congress in favor of abolishing the military’s unjust “don’t ask, don’t... Full story

Walk away

U.S. should fight terrorism in Yemen, instead of in Afghanistan

Joel Brinkley

Al-Qaida in Yemen has grown so strong and adept that the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan were forced to close their embassies in Sanaa, Yemen, this week — so seriously are they taking al-Qaida’s “live and active... Full story

Glimmer of Hope: Threads of progress visible in Mideast

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — When the Roman Catholic patriarch of the Holy Land, Fouad Tual, celebrated Mass in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this Christmas Eve, events in the town and region over this past year gave more and more... Full story

As time flies ...

Americans have seen major changes in travel, technology over past decade

Beth J. Harpaz

Remember getting through an airport without removing your shoes, dumping your water bottle or showing ID? Remember when buying plane tickets by phone was faster than using a clunky Web site with a dial-up connection? Remember when you needed a... Full story

In Rehnquist's defense

Chief justice's friend rebuts Ted Kennedy’s depiction of him

McClatchy-Tribune

Readers of Ted Kennedy’s memoir, True Compass — consistently near the top of all best-seller lists since late September — will occasionally find the late senator in a contrite frame of mind. Of Chappaquiddick, for example, he... Full story

To infinity and back?

Without international help, funding, space program will stay earthbound

The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Maybe someone should stick a copy of The Right Stuff into the DVD player on President Barack Obama’s long flight back from his mission to Asia. That inspirational movie about America’s first astronauts might help Obama make a decision... Full story

Conserve coral reefs

Scientists say we must protect the environment or face irreversible losses

Jeff Wise

Today, many of our planet’s natural areas are seriously threatened by human incursion, overexploitation and global warming: Less than a fifth of the world’s original forest cover remains in unfragmented tracts, while just one-third of... Full story

The Hill

Political drama keeps parties from finding unity

Carl P. Leubsdorf

Recent years have seen the Democrats and Republicans evolve into predominantly liberal and conservative parties, respectively, rather than the broad coalitions of the past. But some current developments suggest neither has achieved total unity and... Full story

War of the words

Gen. McChrystal’s comments on Afghanistan are understandable

Trudy Rubin

I feel sorry for Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal. The top commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is in hot water. Last week, he rejected the idea of scaling down U.S. troop levels and fighting al-Qaida there with drones and missiles. Such a strategy... Full story

Crazy like a fox, or is Fox News just plain crazy?

Leonard Pitts Jr.

Perhaps you are familiar with an old saying: even a broken clock is right twice a day. I’ve found that maxim valuable as I wade through the recent hand-wringing and recrimination among journalists and their critics over the fact that most... Full story

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