csmonitor--2020-09-08--Can education solve everything?

Can education solve everything?

Are you someone who believes that education is the great equalizer ?
I was until I sat down to write this column .
But now I ’ m being forced to confront my perceptions about America ’ s challenges a little differently .
This week ’ s cover story by Stephanie Hanes is about education .
And as with virtually everything else , the pandemic has acted as a spotlight , illuminating problems that have long existed .
Two of the most powerful revelations : Schools are essential child care and our economies can ’ t fully recover without them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While wealthy families can overcome public education ’ s challenges with tutors or computers , others must depend on their districts , which vary wildly .
If we could fix these inequities , could we fix one of America ’ s deepest underlying challenges ?
Study after study has shown that economic mobility – the term used to define people ’ s ability to move up the economic ladder – is a shadow of what it was 50 years ago .
Where you are born , and to whom , determines your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two generations ago .
Put simply , the American dream is delivering for fewer people .
So many ills of the nation , from political polarization to racial tension , can be connected to the stresses created by this stagnation of opportunity .
So how do we fix it ?
My answer had been education .
And there is a logic to that .
As Western economies shift into a new gear – away from manufacturing and toward knowledge-based industries – education is essential to spread these opportunities to all .
But in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Better Schools Won ’ t Fix America , ” entrepreneur Nick Hanauer asks an interesting question : If public education is struggling , then why are public school students in wealthy areas doing just fine ?
That leads to one rather obvious conclusion : Higher local tax revenues give those schools sustainable funding .
But Mr. Hanauer goes further .
That higher income is , in many ways , more important than the school .
“ The scientific literature on this subject is robust , and the consensus overwhelming .
The lower your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely level of educational attainment .
Period , ” Mr. Hanauer writes .
“ Multiple studies have found that only about 20 percent of student outcomes can be attributed to schooling , whereas about 60 percent are explained by family circumstances – most significantly , income.
” In other words , the best educational reform might be putting more money in parents ’ pockets – not through some government program but through higher wages and expanded opportunity .
As overall wage growth has stalled , with money concentrating in fewer hands , public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only in inadequate local tax revenues , but also in the need to serve less economically mobile families .
Challenges become entrenched .
Neighborhoods lose hope as economic advancement seems more remote .
These problems are shared by white communities and communities of color , by conservative rural areas and liberal urban areas .
Yet they manifest themselves in division and finger-pointing .
For a long time , I thought that education was the primary tool for improving society and repairing the breach .
But perhaps we first need to repair the breach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of fairness and equity – to elevate education .

Are you someone who believes that education is the great equalizer? I was until I sat down to write this column. But now I’m being forced to confront my perceptions about America’s challenges a little differently.
This week’s cover story by Stephanie Hanes is about education. And as with virtually everything else, the pandemic has acted as a spotlight, illuminating problems that have long existed. Two of the most powerful revelations: Schools are essential child care and our economies can’t fully recover without them – and they are engines of inequity. While wealthy families can overcome public education’s challenges with tutors or computers, others must depend on their districts, which vary wildly.
If we could fix these inequities, could we fix one of America’s deepest underlying challenges? Study after study has shown that economic mobility – the term used to define people’s ability to move up the economic ladder – is a shadow of what it was 50 years ago. Where you are born, and to whom, determines your economic opportunity far more than it did two generations ago. Put simply, the American dream is delivering for fewer people. So many ills of the nation, from political polarization to racial tension, can be connected to the stresses created by this stagnation of opportunity.
So how do we fix it? My answer had been education. And there is a logic to that. As Western economies shift into a new gear – away from manufacturing and toward knowledge-based industries – education is essential to spread these opportunities to all.
But in an article in the Atlantic, “Better Schools Won’t Fix America,” entrepreneur Nick Hanauer asks an interesting question: If public education is struggling, then why are public school students in wealthy areas doing just fine? That leads to one rather obvious conclusion: Higher local tax revenues give those schools sustainable funding. But Mr. Hanauer goes further. That higher income is, in many ways, more important than the school.
“The scientific literature on this subject is robust, and the consensus overwhelming. The lower your parents’ income, the lower your likely level of educational attainment. Period,” Mr. Hanauer writes. “Multiple studies have found that only about 20 percent of student outcomes can be attributed to schooling, whereas about 60 percent are explained by family circumstances – most significantly, income.”
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In other words, the best educational reform might be putting more money in parents’ pockets – not through some government program but through higher wages and expanded opportunity. As overall wage growth has stalled, with money concentrating in fewer hands, public schools have felt the effects, not only in inadequate local tax revenues, but also in the need to serve less economically mobile families. Challenges become entrenched. Neighborhoods lose hope as economic advancement seems more remote.
These problems are shared by white communities and communities of color, by conservative rural areas and liberal urban areas. Yet they manifest themselves in division and finger-pointing. For a long time, I thought that education was the primary tool for improving society and repairing the breach. But perhaps we first need to repair the breach – finding better footing for a fresh sense of fairness and equity – to elevate education.


csmonitor--2020-09-08--Muslim lands staking out interfaith coexistence

The notion of the Arab and Muslim world as a cauldron of perpetual religious strife – and thus a place to avoid – has been a difficult rap to beat .
Yet many countries keep defying the myth .
The latest may be Sudan .
On Sept. 3 , its prime minister , Abdalla Hamdok , signed an agreement to enshrine the principle of “ separation of religion and state ” in the constitution .
In addition , political parties would not be established on a religious basis .
Sudan joins Tunisia , Iraq , Lebanon , and a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curb their sectarian divisions or the strict imposition of sharia , or Islamic law , on civic and private life .
Notions of political equality are rising up , led mostly by youthful protesters who rely on the Arabic term for citizens : muwatinun .
Sudan ’ s move toward secular governance comes out of pro-democracy protests that felled a dictator , Omar al-Bashir , in April 2019 .
His three-decade legacy of Islam as the de facto state religion is slowly being overturned in favor of a unifying “ civilian state.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharia .
The transitional government has abolished the apostasy laws as well as corporal punishment or flogging of non-Muslims .
It allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol .
It has banned female genital mutilation , a practice tied to certain religious views of women .
Religious freedom is not yet assured in Sudan .
The military has a strong hand in an 11-member council preparing for full democracy in two years .
Many hardcore Islamists oppose the idea of religious equality or even peaceful coexistence among faiths .
They will have a say in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 % of Sudan ’ s 45 million people are Muslim while 6 % are Christian .
One member of the ruling council is a Coptic Christian .
What makes Sudan ’ s progress worth noting is that a number of scholars have lately tried to revive the memory of Muslim-majority lands having an inclusive society during the Ottoman Empire of the late 19th century .
An 1876 law , for example , passed under the Ottoman constitution declared the equality of all subjects as citizens .
One slogan during the 1919 Egyptian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for God and the homeland is for all.
” It was external pressures , such as Western colonization during the 20th century , that escalated conflicts between Muslims , Christians , Jews , and others , the scholars point out .
“ Religious diversity does not have to generate a problem of political sectarianism , ” writes Ussama Makdisi , a historian at Rice University .
It is “ simply wrong to analyze sectarianism as if it is age-old and some self-evident phenomenon.
” For scholar Alexander Henley at the University of Oxford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want the United States to believe that “ sectarianism is ancient and unfixable so that we will fear democratization in the Middle East as much as they do.
” “ Sectarianism is a problem , but let us remember that it ’ s a new problem , and that what can be made can also be unmade , ” he writes in an article published by Georgetown University .
The task for the Mideast is to reinvent the ecumenical coexistence that it once enjoyed , or to “ illustrate a far richer reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our despair today , ” says Dr. Makdisi .
That despair , and along with it the fire of religious hatreds , may be lifting in places like Sudan .
A history of past coexistence has a future .

The notion of the Arab and Muslim world as a cauldron of perpetual religious strife – and thus a place to avoid – has been a difficult rap to beat. Yet many countries keep defying the myth. The latest may be Sudan. On Sept. 3, its prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, signed an agreement to enshrine the principle of “separation of religion and state” in the constitution. In addition, political parties would not be established on a religious basis.
Sudan joins Tunisia, Iraq, Lebanon, and a few other Muslim-majority countries that are trying to curb their sectarian divisions or the strict imposition of sharia, or Islamic law, on civic and private life. Notions of political equality are rising up, led mostly by youthful protesters who rely on the Arabic term for citizens: muwatinun.
Sudan’s move toward secular governance comes out of pro-democracy protests that felled a dictator, Omar al-Bashir, in April 2019. His three-decade legacy of Islam as the de facto state religion is slowly being overturned in favor of a unifying “civilian state.” An interim constitution makes no mention of sharia. The transitional government has abolished the apostasy laws as well as corporal punishment or flogging of non-Muslims. It allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol. It has banned female genital mutilation, a practice tied to certain religious views of women.
Religious freedom is not yet assured in Sudan. The military has a strong hand in an 11-member council preparing for full democracy in two years. Many hardcore Islamists oppose the idea of religious equality or even peaceful coexistence among faiths. They will have a say in writing a final constitution.
More than 90% of Sudan’s 45 million people are Muslim while 6% are Christian. One member of the ruling council is a Coptic Christian.
What makes Sudan’s progress worth noting is that a number of scholars have lately tried to revive the memory of Muslim-majority lands having an inclusive society during the Ottoman Empire of the late 19th century. An 1876 law, for example, passed under the Ottoman constitution declared the equality of all subjects as citizens. One slogan during the 1919 Egyptian Revolution was “Religion is a matter for God and the homeland is for all.”
It was external pressures, such as Western colonization during the 20th century, that escalated conflicts between Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others, the scholars point out. “Religious diversity does not have to generate a problem of political sectarianism,” writes Ussama Makdisi, a historian at Rice University. It is “simply wrong to analyze sectarianism as if it is age-old and some self-evident phenomenon.”
For scholar Alexander Henley at the University of Oxford, the region’s authoritarian regimes want the United States to believe that “sectarianism is ancient and unfixable so that we will fear democratization in the Middle East as much as they do.”
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“Sectarianism is a problem, but let us remember that it’s a new problem, and that what can be made can also be unmade,” he writes in an article published by Georgetown University.
The task for the Mideast is to reinvent the ecumenical coexistence that it once enjoyed, or to “illustrate a far richer reality that we often lose sight of in our despair today,” says Dr. Makdisi. That despair, and along with it the fire of religious hatreds, may be lifting in places like Sudan. A history of past coexistence has a future.


csmonitor--2020-09-08--Points of Progress: Technology improves water testing, and more

Law firms from every state have joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance , an initiative dedicated to using members ’ legal expertise to challenge laws and policies that negatively affect people of color .
The death of George Floyd inspired a group of pro bono lawyers to start the project in partnership with the nonprofit Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago , with the goal of shifting their sights from individual cases of racism and discrimination to advocating for systemic change .
The alliance has grown to include 260 law firms since its July launch , and is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is an essential step in making lasting change , said Ben Weinberg , pro bono partner at Dentons law firm , a founding member of the alliance : “ If you don ’ t have infrastructure , something that exists independent of the good will of individual volunteers , it becomes all but impossible to generate an ongoing project.
” ( Westlaw Today ) Between January and June , the National Demining Institute ( INAD ) cleared about 5 acres of land mines in the province of Zaire , paving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
Twenty-six years of civil war left the countryside littered with land mines , and despite demining efforts , many people are maimed every year by the relics of a conflict that ended in 2002 .
During the latest demining campaign , sappers removed 9,982 explosive devices , including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines .
They also educated citizens about the risks of land mines and how they can stay safe , according to the provincial department of INAD .
The same source said nearly 10,000 explosive devices including bombs , anti-personnel mines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region in 2019 .
( Angola Press News Agency ) Researchers have created a portable laboratory that can test water samples for millions of bacteria , allowing scientists to identify waterborne hazards faster and at lower cost .
In sub-Saharan Africa , monitoring water quality can be a time-consuming and expensive process .
Jemila Mohammed , a postgraduate student at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia who worked on the project , says the initial investment in one of these toolboxes is one-fifth the cost of conventional benchtop sequencing machines .
If the suitcase-sized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , experts say it could become an essential tool for developing countries .
“ Any new research which targets simplifying water testing , which may reduce cost , will play a significant role in increasing access to water , ” said Worlanyo Siabi , CEO of Ghana ’ s Community Water and Sanitation Agency .
( scidev.net ) Afghanistan is setting up a council to empower women and safeguard their rights – a promising development ahead of the country ’ s peace talks with the Taliban .
The council will include female deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came after a coalition of women ’ s rights activists wrote to President Ashraf Ghani , demanding a seat at the table to ensure that “ our place and contribution towards rebuilding our country [ will not ] be erased.
” Activists are concerned the reemergence of the Taliban in politics could set back decades of progress toward gender equality .
While it ’ s not clear what formal powers the council will wield , its creation gives hope to Fawzia Koofi , a lawmaker and vocal critic of the Islamist militant group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the peace process , said the council would not only preserve gains made since 2001 , but also help advance rights for women .
( Thomson Reuters Foundation ) As part of a new effort to empower female students , any girl who passes her end-of-school exams in the state of Assam will receive a gas-powered or electric scooter .
The goal is not only to “ empower the girls and make them independent , ” as the state ’ s education minister said , but also to encourage promising students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe , efficient transportation is often cited as a major reason for dropping out of school or missing class , according to a report from the Child Rights and You charity .
While some say the Assam scooter plan doesn ’ t go far enough with addressing the infrastructure barriers to higher education , others see it as an encouraging first step .
College student Gitashree Das said the reward would allow her to swap an hourlong commute on a cramped bus and auto rickshaw for a 20-minute scooter ride .
( Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservation has helped the wild population of black stilts – or kakī , in the Māori language – grow by 30 % over the past year .
The kakī is a critically endangered wading bird that used to be common across the North and South islands of New Zealand .
There are 169 adult birds known to live in the wild .
Wild kakī are primarily threatened by introduced predators , such as cats and ferrets , but this year has been particularly difficult due to excess flooding during the breeding season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s captive-breeding and reintroduction program also released 104 birds ( not included in the earlier figure ) to help boost wild populations .
Despite these challenges , the success of the Kakī Recovery Programme has made conservationists hopeful that they can save one of the world ’ s rarest birds .
( Mongabay )

1. United States
Law firms from every state have joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, an initiative dedicated to using members’ legal expertise to challenge laws and policies that negatively affect people of color. The death of George Floyd inspired a group of pro bono lawyers to start the project in partnership with the nonprofit Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago, with the goal of shifting their sights from individual cases of racism and discrimination to advocating for systemic change. The alliance has grown to include 260 law firms since its July launch, and is now drafting papers to become a formal nonprofit. This is an essential step in making lasting change, said Ben Weinberg, pro bono partner at Dentons law firm, a founding member of the alliance: “If you don’t have infrastructure, something that exists independent of the good will of individual volunteers, it becomes all but impossible to generate an ongoing project.” (Westlaw Today)
2. Angola
Why We Wrote This This is more than feel-good news – it’s where the world is making concrete progress. A roundup of positive stories to inspire you.
Between January and June, the National Demining Institute (INAD) cleared about 5 acres of land mines in the province of Zaire, paving the way for new development projects and safe travel. Twenty-six years of civil war left the countryside littered with land mines, and despite demining efforts, many people are maimed every year by the relics of a conflict that ended in 2002. During the latest demining campaign, sappers removed 9,982 explosive devices, including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. They also educated citizens about the risks of land mines and how they can stay safe, according to the provincial department of INAD. The same source said nearly 10,000 explosive devices including bombs, anti-personnel mines, and ammunition were removed from the region in 2019. (Angola Press News Agency)
3. Ethiopia
Researchers have created a portable laboratory that can test water samples for millions of bacteria, allowing scientists to identify waterborne hazards faster and at lower cost. In sub-Saharan Africa, monitoring water quality can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Jemila Mohammed, a postgraduate student at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia who worked on the project, says the initial investment in one of these toolboxes is one-fifth the cost of conventional benchtop sequencing machines.
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff/File View caption Hide caption Women collect water rations on May 18, 2017, in Melkaselah Village, Ethiopia. Clean water is crucial for drinking and cooking.
If the suitcase-sized laboratory can keep up with local standards, experts say it could become an essential tool for developing countries. “Any new research which targets simplifying water testing, which may reduce cost, will play a significant role in increasing access to water,” said Worlanyo Siabi, CEO of Ghana’s Community Water and Sanitation Agency. (scidev.net)
4. Afghanistan
Afghanistan is setting up a council to empower women and safeguard their rights – a promising development ahead of the country’s peace talks with the Taliban. The council will include female deputy governors from various provinces. The announcement came after a coalition of women’s rights activists wrote to President Ashraf Ghani, demanding a seat at the table to ensure that “our place and contribution towards rebuilding our country [will not] be erased.” Activists are concerned the reemergence of the Taliban in politics could set back decades of progress toward gender equality. While it’s not clear what formal powers the council will wield, its creation gives hope to Fawzia Koofi, a lawmaker and vocal critic of the Islamist militant group. Ms. Koofi, who has been involved in the peace process, said the council would not only preserve gains made since 2001, but also help advance rights for women. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
5. India
As part of a new effort to empower female students, any girl who passes her end-of-school exams in the state of Assam will receive a gas-powered or electric scooter. The goal is not only to “empower the girls and make them independent,” as the state’s education minister said, but also to encourage promising students to continue their education. Lack of safe, efficient transportation is often cited as a major reason for dropping out of school or missing class, according to a report from the Child Rights and You charity.
Anupam Nath/AP/File View caption Hide caption Indian girls walk to a school in Burha Mayong village, about 28 miles east of Guwahati, in Assam state, April 9, 2015.
While some say the Assam scooter plan doesn’t go far enough with addressing the infrastructure barriers to higher education, others see it as an encouraging first step. College student Gitashree Das said the reward would allow her to swap an hourlong commute on a cramped bus and auto rickshaw for a 20-minute scooter ride. (Reuters)
6. New Zealand
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation has helped the wild population of black stilts – or kakī, in the Māori language – grow by 30% over the past year. The kakī is a critically endangered wading bird that used to be common across the North and South islands of New Zealand. There are 169 adult birds known to live in the wild. Wild kakī are primarily threatened by introduced predators, such as cats and ferrets, but this year has been particularly difficult due to excess flooding during the breeding season. In August, the Department of Conservation’s captive-breeding and reintroduction program also released 104 birds (not included in the earlier figure) to help boost wild populations. Despite these challenges, the success of the Kakī Recovery Programme has made conservationists hopeful that they can save one of the world’s rarest birds. (Mongabay)


csmonitor--2020-09-08--Anger and forgiveness: Service members mixed on Trump's remarks

In this soldier ’ s city and across the country , veterans and military families are divided about reports that President Donald Trump made disparaging comments toward the military , with some service members bristling at the remarks and others questioning whether they happened .
Thomas Richardson , a retired member of the Army ’ s 82nd Airborne , did not like what he heard .
Mr. Richardson was trained to respect the office of commander in chief , but he was rankled by allegations in The Atlantic , many of them independently confirmed by The Associated Press , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured United States service members as “ losers ” and “ suckers.
” “ Usually , you don ’ t choose those kinds of missions .
You agree to serve and you agree to go where your assignment is , ” said Mr. Richardson , who did not vote for Mr. Trump in 2016 .
Fayetteville , home to more than 200,000 people , is bordered by Fort Bragg on its northern limits .
It was named in 1783 for the Marquis de Lafayette , the French hero of the American Revolution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stationed at Fort Bragg .
She is skeptical about the reports of Mr. Trump ’ s remarks and is prepared to stick by him even if they are true .
“ If you twist his words or just take one thing out of context , you ’ ll always find a way to hate him , ” Ms. Constandse said .
“ He ’ s a human being .
He takes a lot of stuff .
I don ’ t see how he has survived for almost four years – the constant barrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Constandse said Mr. Trump ’ s presidency has been good for service members and their families .
“ We don ’ t need someone who is warm and cuddly , ” she said .
At North Carolina Veterans Park , Ben Henderson – a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg – was showing his father around the gardens and memorials on Saturday .
Mr. Henderson voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 and plans to do it again in November , partly in appreciation for a recent military pay raise .
As for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he had given them little thought .
“ I don ’ t get involved with all that politics stuff .
I ’ m concentrating on my job , ” he said .
Mr. Trump and his allies have dismissed the Atlantic report as false and depicted the president – who did not serve in the military – as a staunch supporter of service members and veterans .
Military families were broadly supportive of Mr. Trump in the 2016 election , and a Pew Research Center survey of veterans conducted in June 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr. Trump than the general public .
Among that group is retired Green Beret Joe Kent .
At his home near Portland , Oregon , Mr. Kent clicked on the Atlantic article as soon as he scrolled across the explosive story on his Twitter feed Thursday evening .
He does not overlook headlines regarding fallen service members because his wife was one of them .
Shannon Kent , a senior chief petty officer with the Navy , was killed in January 2019 in a suicide bombing in Syria .
Her husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , does not believe Mr. Trump made the disparaging remarks attributed to him .
“ I have a really hard time believing anonymous sources , ” Mr. Kent said .
“ The new accusations just seem so sensational to me.
” Mr. Kent speaks from his own personal experiences with the president .
When his family gathered at Dover Air Force Base last January to receive his wife ’ s remains , Mr. Trump was there .
“ I didn ’ t get any kind of disrespect , ” said Mr. Kent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Military Families for Trump .
“ He seemed to me to be a leader who was deeply conflicted about sending people off to die.
” John Doolittle of St. Petersburg , Florida – who retired from the Navy SEALS three years ago – is another Trump admirer unswayed by the reports .
Mr. Trump “ has gone out of his way to make sure veterans get a fair share , ” said Mr. Doolittle who now works for a firm offering fitness and rehabilitation programs .
“ I think morale in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive.
” Other veterans , however , have been disenchanted with Mr. Trump for much of his presidency .
He mocked Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona , who died in 2018 , for being captured by the enemy while serving in the Vietnam War .
“ I understand what The Atlantic reported is probably painful for the president to hear , ” said retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton .
“ But it ’ s not a surprise to anyone in uniform after watching how he behaved toward Senator McCain.
” Mr. Eaton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington state ’ s Puget Sound , retired from the Army in 2006 after stints as a commander in Iraq and elsewhere .
For several years , he ’ s been an advisor to VoteVets , which describes itself as the largest progressive veterans ’ organization in the U.S. Mr. Eaton ’ s father was an Air Force pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1969 and whose remains were recovered many years later .
His wife is a former Army captain and daughter of a Marine Corps colonel .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president can not grasp the nature and quality of selfless service , ” Mr. Eaton said .
“ It ’ s all transactional for him ... it ’ s beyond comprehension that we would have to tolerate a commander in chief who behaves the way this president does.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Sarah Morgan Blake in Charlotte , North Carolina , contributed to this report .

In this soldier’s city and across the country, veterans and military families are divided about reports that President Donald Trump made disparaging comments toward the military, with some service members bristling at the remarks and others questioning whether they happened.
Thomas Richardson, a retired member of the Army’s 82nd Airborne, did not like what he heard.
Mr. Richardson was trained to respect the office of commander in chief, but he was rankled by allegations in The Atlantic, many of them independently confirmed by The Associated Press, that Mr. Trump had referred to fallen and captured United States service members as “losers” and “suckers.”
“Usually, you don’t choose those kinds of missions. You agree to serve and you agree to go where your assignment is,” said Mr. Richardson, who did not vote for Mr. Trump in 2016.
Fayetteville, home to more than 200,000 people, is bordered by Fort Bragg on its northern limits. It was named in 1783 for the Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolution.
Katie Constandse is married to a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg. She is skeptical about the reports of Mr. Trump’s remarks and is prepared to stick by him even if they are true.
“If you twist his words or just take one thing out of context, you’ll always find a way to hate him,” Ms. Constandse said. “He’s a human being. He takes a lot of stuff. I don’t see how he has survived for almost four years – the constant barrage of anger toward him.”
Overall, Ms. Constandse said Mr. Trump’s presidency has been good for service members and their families.
“We don’t need someone who is warm and cuddly,” she said.
At North Carolina Veterans Park, Ben Henderson – a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg – was showing his father around the gardens and memorials on Saturday.
Mr. Henderson voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 and plans to do it again in November, partly in appreciation for a recent military pay raise. As for the reports about Mr. Trump, Mr. Henderson said he had given them little thought.
“I don’t get involved with all that politics stuff. I’m concentrating on my job,” he said.
Mr. Trump and his allies have dismissed the Atlantic report as false and depicted the president – who did not serve in the military – as a staunch supporter of service members and veterans.
Military families were broadly supportive of Mr. Trump in the 2016 election, and a Pew Research Center survey of veterans conducted in June 2019 found overall that veterans were more supportive of Mr. Trump than the general public.
Among that group is retired Green Beret Joe Kent.
At his home near Portland, Oregon, Mr. Kent clicked on the Atlantic article as soon as he scrolled across the explosive story on his Twitter feed Thursday evening. He does not overlook headlines regarding fallen service members because his wife was one of them.
Shannon Kent, a senior chief petty officer with the Navy, was killed in January 2019 in a suicide bombing in Syria.
Her husband, now working for an information technology company, does not believe Mr. Trump made the disparaging remarks attributed to him.
“I have a really hard time believing anonymous sources,” Mr. Kent said. “The new accusations just seem so sensational to me.”
Mr. Kent speaks from his own personal experiences with the president. When his family gathered at Dover Air Force Base last January to receive his wife’s remains, Mr. Trump was there.
“I didn’t get any kind of disrespect,” said Mr. Kent, who is now on the advisory board of Military Families for Trump. “He seemed to me to be a leader who was deeply conflicted about sending people off to die.”
John Doolittle of St. Petersburg, Florida – who retired from the Navy SEALS three years ago – is another Trump admirer unswayed by the reports.
Mr. Trump “has gone out of his way to make sure veterans get a fair share,” said Mr. Doolittle who now works for a firm offering fitness and rehabilitation programs. “I think morale in the services and the veteran community is very positive.”
Other veterans, however, have been disenchanted with Mr. Trump for much of his presidency. He mocked Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who died in 2018, for being captured by the enemy while serving in the Vietnam War.
“I understand what The Atlantic reported is probably painful for the president to hear,” said retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton. “But it’s not a surprise to anyone in uniform after watching how he behaved toward Senator McCain.”
Mr. Eaton, who now lives on Fox Island in Washington state’s Puget Sound, retired from the Army in 2006 after stints as a commander in Iraq and elsewhere. For several years, he’s been an advisor to VoteVets, which describes itself as the largest progressive veterans’ organization in the U.S.
Mr. Eaton’s father was an Air Force pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1969 and whose remains were recovered many years later. His wife is a former Army captain and daughter of a Marine Corps colonel.
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“I’m not surprised that the president cannot grasp the nature and quality of selfless service,” Mr. Eaton said. “It’s all transactional for him ... it’s beyond comprehension that we would have to tolerate a commander in chief who behaves the way this president does.”
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Sarah Morgan Blake in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-09-08--Warning shots fired on both sides of India-China border

India and China accused each other on Tuesday of making provocative military moves and firing warning shots along their disputed border despite talks on ending the escalating tensions .
China said Indian forces on Monday crossed into territory it holds and fired warning shots at a Chinese patrol in what it called a violation of their agreements .
India denied that and said Chinese soldiers tried to surround one of its forward posts in a “ grave provocation ” and also fired warning shots .
China described it as the first exchange of fire between the countries in 45 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tense standoff in the cold-desert Ladakh region since May , and their defense ministers met Friday in Moscow in the first high-level direct contact between the sides since the standoff began .
China ’ s western military command said the incursion occurred Monday along the southern coast of Pangong Lake in an area known in China as Shenpaoshan and in India as Chushul .
The two countries ’ local military commanders have held several rounds of talks to defuse the tense standoff .
After shots were fired , Chinese forces took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation , ” the command said in a statement citing spokesman Zhang Shuili .
It demanded the Indian forces withdraw and investigate the move to open fire .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian repeated that Indian troop were the first to shoot .
He said it was the first exchange of fire between the sides since 1975 , despite the increasing tempo of recent clashes .
“ We , the Chinese side , has been been stressing repeatedly that the two sides should peacefully settle our differences through dialogue and consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing .
Col. Aman Anand , an Indian army spokesman , said China continues “ provocative activities to escalate ” tensions and called the Chinese military statement an attempt to mislead domestic and international audiences .
Colonel Anand said the Chinese soldiers tried to surround an Indian military post and fired a few shots in the air when the Indian soldiers “ dissuaded ” them .
He said Indian troops “ exercised great restraint.
” He accused China ’ s military of “ blatantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while engagement at military , diplomatic , and political level is in progress.
” There was no word of casualties on either side .
Late last month , India said its soldiers thwarted Chinese military ’ s moves “ to change the status quo ” in violation of a consensus reached in past efforts to settle the standoff .
In turn , China accused Indian troops of crossing established lines of control .
The activities last month and on Monday were alleged to have occurred on the southern bank of Pangong Lake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facto frontier and where the India-China face off began on its northern flank in early May .
The standoff escalated to a nighttime clash on June 15 that was the deadliest conflict in 45 years between the countries .
According to Indian officials , Chinese troops atop a ridge at the mouth of the narrow Galwan Valley threw stones , punched , and pushed Indian soldiers down the ridge at around 15,000 feet .
India said 20 of its soldiers were killed , including a colonel .
China did not report any casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between India and China , referred to as the Line of Actual Control , stretches from the Ladakh region in the west to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh in the east .
China also claims all of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory .
The Asia giants fought a border war in 1962 that also spilled into Ladakh and ended in an uneasy truce .
They have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s , without success .
India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory and separated it from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its semi-autonomous status .
The move further strained the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing , which raised the issue at international forums including the U.N. Security Council .
In a symbolic move amid soaring tensions , India has banned scores of Chinese-owned apps , including TikTok , citing privacy concerns that it said pose a threat to India ’ s sovereignty and security .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .

India and China accused each other on Tuesday of making provocative military moves and firing warning shots along their disputed border despite talks on ending the escalating tensions.
China said Indian forces on Monday crossed into territory it holds and fired warning shots at a Chinese patrol in what it called a violation of their agreements. India denied that and said Chinese soldiers tried to surround one of its forward posts in a “grave provocation” and also fired warning shots.
China described it as the first exchange of fire between the countries in 45 years.
The nuclear-armed rivals have been engaged in a tense standoff in the cold-desert Ladakh region since May, and their defense ministers met Friday in Moscow in the first high-level direct contact between the sides since the standoff began.
China’s western military command said the incursion occurred Monday along the southern coast of Pangong Lake in an area known in China as Shenpaoshan and in India as Chushul. The two countries’ local military commanders have held several rounds of talks to defuse the tense standoff.
After shots were fired, Chinese forces took “necessary measures to stabilize and control the situation,” the command said in a statement citing spokesman Zhang Shuili. It demanded the Indian forces withdraw and investigate the move to open fire.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian repeated that Indian troop were the first to shoot. He said it was the first exchange of fire between the sides since 1975, despite the increasing tempo of recent clashes.
“We, the Chinese side, has been been stressing repeatedly that the two sides should peacefully settle our differences through dialogue and consultation. Confrontation will not benefit either side,” Mr. Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing.
Col. Aman Anand, an Indian army spokesman, said China continues “provocative activities to escalate” tensions and called the Chinese military statement an attempt to mislead domestic and international audiences.
Colonel Anand said the Chinese soldiers tried to surround an Indian military post and fired a few shots in the air when the Indian soldiers “dissuaded” them. He said Indian troops “exercised great restraint.”
He accused China’s military of “blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive maneuvers while engagement at military, diplomatic, and political level is in progress.”
There was no word of casualties on either side.
Late last month, India said its soldiers thwarted Chinese military’s moves “to change the status quo” in violation of a consensus reached in past efforts to settle the standoff. In turn, China accused Indian troops of crossing established lines of control.
The activities last month and on Monday were alleged to have occurred on the southern bank of Pangong Lake, a glacial lake divided by the de facto frontier and where the India-China face off began on its northern flank in early May.
The standoff escalated to a nighttime clash on June 15 that was the deadliest conflict in 45 years between the countries. According to Indian officials, Chinese troops atop a ridge at the mouth of the narrow Galwan Valley threw stones, punched, and pushed Indian soldiers down the ridge at around 15,000 feet. India said 20 of its soldiers were killed, including a colonel. China did not report any casualties.
The disputed and undemarcated 2,175-mile border between India and China, referred to as the Line of Actual Control, stretches from the Ladakh region in the west to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh in the east. China also claims all of Arunachal Pradesh as its territory.
The Asia giants fought a border war in 1962 that also spilled into Ladakh and ended in an uneasy truce. They have been trying to settle their border dispute since the early 1990s, without success.
India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory and separated it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019, ending its semi-autonomous status. The move further strained the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing, which raised the issue at international forums including the U.N. Security Council.
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In a symbolic move amid soaring tensions, India has banned scores of Chinese-owned apps, including TikTok, citing privacy concerns that it said pose a threat to India’s sovereignty and security.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-09-09--Proud to be included as ‘one of the guys’

One of my proudest moments as a child came after a sandlot baseball game , when my mom told me that one of my playmates had arrived home with the back of his pants ripped waist to knee , and been asked , “ Who saw you this way ?
” “ No one but the guys , mom – you know , Georgie , Doug , Eddie , and Sue.
” This was verbal nirvana to a tomboy , and though I know the term can raise hackles today , back in the 1950s there was no other way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things outdoors , and sports in particular .
I received the football I ’ d asked for one Christmas and slept with it that night , the leathery scent intoxicating .
Another Christmas , an aunt who didn ’ t know me very well sent me and my sister authentic Shirley Temple dolls .
I don ’ t recall ever playing with mine , but I wish I had it today .
Think what it would fetch for reinvestment in sports !
I didn ’ t think of that as a kid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowance on a big black baseball mitt and grieved for longer than that when I lost it at a local park .
I tried to join the Little League , which was boys-only in those days , and when refused , simply accepted my lot – to my discredit .
Instead of becoming a women ’ s rights pioneer , I stuck to the sandlots with my male buddies , ripped pants and all .
I did not so much want to be a boy , just do everything they did .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for girls , but again , I failed to protest .
I just changed as soon as I got home .
One or two of my childhood girlfriends were like-minded , but none lived in my neighborhood , and so I spent 90 % of my free time being , as Tom put it , one of the guys .
After my marriage , I attended a geology department picnic with my husband , where professors and graduate students competed at some hardball pitch and catch .
I just happened to have my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one for long ) , so I squatted down like a catcher and invited pitches .
Wary , slow , underhand lobs came my way from the guys , until I began getting bored and drilled a few back with a solid windup .
Then , the game was on , and I wonder if I perhaps helped Rob win his tenure that day .
He didn ’ t have a clue how to catch or pitch , but the assembled scholars knew I ’ d be an asset to any intramural game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son and helped raise a grandson with mitt , bat , and all kinds of sports paraphernalia .
I ’ ve never hesitated to invest in such things .
I happily agreed to soccer and basketball camps , and financed tennis lessons .
OK , I forced tennis lessons , but my grandson developed a mean side-spin before he bowed out .
I never could return one of those .
Gender divides in sports have faded , but haven ’ t disappeared – yet .
There are still battles to be fought .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have disappeared , though .
It ’ s a throwback , and probably rightly so .
It connotes an aberration and ( to me , as a girl ) a feeling of superiority wholly undeserved .
I was no better than my “ girlie girl ” sister ( just kidding , Barb ) .
Except at sports .
I felt privileged to be labeled a tomboy .
I was enormously proud of my skills on the field – and that my pal Tom considered me enough like him to play on with ripped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our dinners .
I can still catch a fastball .
There should be a term for someone like me who still pulls on a baseball mitt .

One of my proudest moments as a child came after a sandlot baseball game, when my mom told me that one of my playmates had arrived home with the back of his pants ripped waist to knee, and been asked, “Who saw you this way?”
“No one but the guys, mom – you know, Georgie, Doug, Eddie, and Sue.”
This was verbal nirvana to a tomboy, and though I know the term can raise hackles today, back in the 1950s there was no other way to describe a girl who coveted all things outdoors, and sports in particular. I received the football I’d asked for one Christmas and slept with it that night, the leathery scent intoxicating. Another Christmas, an aunt who didn’t know me very well sent me and my sister authentic Shirley Temple dolls. I don’t recall ever playing with mine, but I wish I had it today. Think what it would fetch for reinvestment in sports!
I didn’t think of that as a kid. And so I spent two months’ allowance on a big black baseball mitt and grieved for longer than that when I lost it at a local park. I tried to join the Little League, which was boys-only in those days, and when refused, simply accepted my lot – to my discredit. Instead of becoming a women’s rights pioneer, I stuck to the sandlots with my male buddies, ripped pants and all.
I did not so much want to be a boy, just do everything they did. In jeans, too. School mandated dresses for girls, but again, I failed to protest. I just changed as soon as I got home.
One or two of my childhood girlfriends were like-minded, but none lived in my neighborhood, and so I spent 90% of my free time being, as Tom put it, one of the guys.
After my marriage, I attended a geology department picnic with my husband, where professors and graduate students competed at some hardball pitch and catch. I just happened to have my mitt (I have never been without one for long), so I squatted down like a catcher and invited pitches. Wary, slow, underhand lobs came my way from the guys, until I began getting bored and drilled a few back with a solid windup.
Then, the game was on, and I wonder if I perhaps helped Rob win his tenure that day. He didn’t have a clue how to catch or pitch, but the assembled scholars knew I’d be an asset to any intramural game.
I’ve since raised a son and helped raise a grandson with mitt, bat, and all kinds of sports paraphernalia. I’ve never hesitated to invest in such things. I happily agreed to soccer and basketball camps, and financed tennis lessons. OK, I forced tennis lessons, but my grandson developed a mean side-spin before he bowed out. I never could return one of those.
Gender divides in sports have faded, but haven’t disappeared – yet. There are still battles to be fought. The term “tomboy” seems to have disappeared, though. It’s a throwback, and probably rightly so. It connotes an aberration and (to me, as a girl) a feeling of superiority wholly undeserved. I was no better than my “girlie girl” sister (just kidding, Barb). Except at sports.
I felt privileged to be labeled a tomboy. I was enormously proud of my skills on the field – and that my pal Tom considered me enough like him to play on with ripped pants until we were all called home to our dinners.
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I can still catch a fastball. There should be a term for someone like me who still pulls on a baseball mitt.
“Nana” just doesn’t capture it.


csmonitor--2020-09-09--How debt swaps could help save the environment

In Kenya , the coronavirus pandemic has dried up ecotourism , cutting off sources of funding that help protect wildlife and pay an income to communities working to preserve nature .
But forgiving a share of Kenya ’ s hefty foreign debt , in exchange for the government devoting those resources to fighting climate change threats and biodiversity loss , could tackle several big problems at once , researchers said on Tuesday .
“ As part of pandemic economic rescue packages , governments have an opportunity to address simultaneously the crises of debt , climate , and biodiversity destruction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Environment and Development ( IIED ) wrote in a report .
It ranks countries that would benefit most from such “ debt swaps ” based on their vulnerability to climate change , richness of biodiversity , indebtedness , and creditworthiness .
At the top of the list are Cape Verde – an island nation off the coast of West Africa – Vietnam , Honduras , Kenya , Nicaragua , and Papua New Guinea .
In Vietnam , for example , swapping debt for nature and climate protection could help farmers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at high risk of sea level rise – switch to salt-tolerant crop varieties , said report co-author Paul Steele .
Opening up budget space could also expand a government effort that pays farmers , particularly in the poorest indigenous communities , to plant trees and conserve forests , he said .
Most of the $ 8 trillion in debt owed by developing nations in 2019 – before the virus crisis – is held by wealthy countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development , China , and large asset managers , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason to consider such swaps , he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation .
China , for instance , is the host of the next Convention on Biological Diversity summit , now delayed to 2021 , which aims to increase finance for nature protection , among other goals .
As the biggest holder of bilateral debt with developing nations , China could set an example by testing out debt swaps , and recently mentioned them at an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank meeting , Mr. Steele said .
Asset managers facing debt write-offs as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put them to productive use – which could both support ailing economies and reduce the need for more debt relief in the future , Mr. Steele said .
Some investors that have made commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050 could also consider debt swaps as part of their broader mission , he added .
Debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps are a relatively new idea .
The Seychelles in 2018 signed a $ 27 million deal brokered through The Nature Conservancy , with the freed-up cash going to set up a big marine reserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might particularly suit other small island developing states in the Caribbean or Pacific with large debt , high climate vulnerability , and rich biodiversity , he said .
In all the swaps , money would be made available for climate and nature protection under a “ results-based ” payment system , in which the debtor nation must do what it promises to obtain the debt relief , he said .
While Britain no longer holds much developing-country debt after forgiving most of it decades ago , as host of next year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put pressure on creditors in London ’ s financial center to participate in such swaps , he said .
These deals may become more attractive – and important – as debt rises in developing countries battling the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturns , researchers noted .
Developing-world debt was already reaching record levels before the COVID-19 crisis , rising to 170 % of gross domestic product across the countries in 2019 from 110 % in 2010 , according to the International Monetary Fund .
This story was reported by the Thomson Reuters Foundation @

In Kenya, the coronavirus pandemic has dried up ecotourism, cutting off sources of funding that help protect wildlife and pay an income to communities working to preserve nature.
But forgiving a share of Kenya’s hefty foreign debt, in exchange for the government devoting those resources to fighting climate change threats and biodiversity loss, could tackle several big problems at once, researchers said on Tuesday.
“As part of pandemic economic rescue packages, governments have an opportunity to address simultaneously the crises of debt, climate, and biodiversity destruction,” researchers from the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) wrote in a report.
It ranks countries that would benefit most from such “debt swaps” based on their vulnerability to climate change, richness of biodiversity, indebtedness, and creditworthiness.
At the top of the list are Cape Verde – an island nation off the coast of West Africa – Vietnam, Honduras, Kenya, Nicaragua, and Papua New Guinea.
In Vietnam, for example, swapping debt for nature and climate protection could help farmers in the Mekong Delta – a major food-growing area at high risk of sea level rise – switch to salt-tolerant crop varieties, said report co-author Paul Steele.
Opening up budget space could also expand a government effort that pays farmers, particularly in the poorest indigenous communities, to plant trees and conserve forests, he said.
Most of the $8 trillion in debt owed by developing nations in 2019 – before the virus crisis – is held by wealthy countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, China, and large asset managers, Mr. Steele said.
All might have good reason to consider such swaps, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
China, for instance, is the host of the next Convention on Biological Diversity summit, now delayed to 2021, which aims to increase finance for nature protection, among other goals.
As the biggest holder of bilateral debt with developing nations, China could set an example by testing out debt swaps, and recently mentioned them at an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank meeting, Mr. Steele said.
Asset managers facing debt write-offs as a result of the coronavirus-linked downturn might opt to put them to productive use – which could both support ailing economies and reduce the need for more debt relief in the future, Mr. Steele said.
Some investors that have made commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050 could also consider debt swaps as part of their broader mission, he added.
Debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps are a relatively new idea. The Seychelles in 2018 signed a $27 million deal brokered through The Nature Conservancy, with the freed-up cash going to set up a big marine reserve, Mr. Steele said.
Similar agreements might particularly suit other small island developing states in the Caribbean or Pacific with large debt, high climate vulnerability, and rich biodiversity, he said.
In all the swaps, money would be made available for climate and nature protection under a “results-based” payment system, in which the debtor nation must do what it promises to obtain the debt relief, he said.
While Britain no longer holds much developing-country debt after forgiving most of it decades ago, as host of next year’s major United Nations climate summit it could put pressure on creditors in London’s financial center to participate in such swaps, he said.
These deals may become more attractive – and important – as debt rises in developing countries battling the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturns, researchers noted.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Developing-world debt was already reaching record levels before the COVID-19 crisis, rising to 170% of gross domestic product across the countries in 2019 from 110% in 2010, according to the International Monetary Fund.
This story was reported by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.


csmonitor--2020-09-09--Justice for all? Behind US targeting of international court.

“ It ’ s extraordinarily hypocritical for us to take action like [ the sanctions ] as soon as that international justice system considers looking at U.S. actions , ” says Jennifer Trahan at New York University ’ s Center for Global Affairs .
“ If the U.S. believes in international justice , then it can ’ t be immune from it.
” Last week the U.S. went so far as to impose sanctions on two ICC officials , the court ’ s lead prosecutor and her chief of staff , over the court ’ s willingness to investigate alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – including potentially the U.S .
Some critics of U.S. policy say Washington cooperated as long as the ICC was investigating weak , primarily African governments .
But when the court decided it might add the U.S. to its docket – well , then , not so much .
The administration of President George W. Bush assisted in investigating the genocide in Darfur , providing satellite imagery to help locate mass graves .
The Obama administration deployed special forces to Uganda in 2011 to help track a militia leader wanted for suspected crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never joined the Hague-based International Criminal Court – created in 1998 to try cases of international war crimes and crimes against humanity – but repeatedly has been willing to offer support .
Under a different administration , and despite its lack of membership in the court , the United States might be assisting the International Criminal Court in its investigation of an alleged genocide of Myanmar ’ s Rohingya minority at the hands of the country ’ s military in 2017 .
The George W. Bush administration assisted the Hague-based court – created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war crimes and crimes against humanity – in investigating the genocide in Darfur , providing among other things satellite imagery to help locate suspected mass graves .
The Obama administration deployed special forces to Uganda in 2011 to help track down a leader of the Lord ’ s Resistance Army , wanted by the court for suspected crimes against humanity , and shared intelligence of interest for other investigations .
But that past cooperation has turned into virulent antagonism under President Donald Trump .
Last week the U.S. went so far as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court ’ s lead prosecutor and her chief of staff , over the international court ’ s willingness to investigate alleged war crimes committed by belligerents in Afghanistan – including potentially the U.S .
The financial sanctions cite ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for her “ effort to investigate US personnel , ” and ICC division chief Phakiso Mochochoko , for assisting the prosecutor .
Trump administration officials describe the imposition of sanctions most often used against terrorists , drug cartel leaders , and officials of hostile governments as a no-other-choice step aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens from prosecution by a politicized global court answerable to no one .
“ The United States is a strong advocate for justice around the world , but … [ the U.S. has never ] accepted ” the ICC ’ s “ jurisdiction over our personnel , ” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week in announcing the sanctions .
“ The ICC ’ s recklessness has forced us to this point and … can not be allowed to follow through with its politically driven targeting of U.S. personnel.
” Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thwart the danger posed by the court to “ our allies ” – assumed to mean Israel , which has also drawn the attention of the ICC over alleged “ war crimes ” in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza .
But for many experts in international criminal justice , the U.S. action is the work of a superpower bully that will do nothing to deter the ICC from pursuing the investigations it deems important – including of the U.S .
Instead , they add , it will only alienate U.S. allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Europeans and Japan , who could have been recruited to help steer the court from focusing on the U.S .
Some experts see the U.S. action in terms of international equity that predate the Trump administration .
Despite longstanding issues with the ICC and never having joined the court and its 123 members , the U.S. has repeatedly been willing to cooperate with it and offer material support – as long , some U.S. critics say , as it was investigating weak , primarily African governments .
But when the ICC decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ docket – well , then , not so much .
Some nevertheless lament seeing the global power that established and led the postwar international justice system with adjudication of the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials now acting in ways they say risk encouraging bad behavior by despots and human rights violators .
“ The U.S. has historically supported and even spearheaded international justice , from the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals [ to ] the war-crimes cases involving the former Yugoslavia and the Rwanda and Cambodia tribunals – but none of those cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried , ” says Jennifer Trahan , a clinical professor of international law and human rights at New York University ’ s Center for Global Affairs .
“ It ’ s extraordinarily hypocritical for us to take action like [ the sanctions ] as soon as that international justice system considers looking at U.S. actions .
If the U.S. believes in international justice , ” she adds , “ then it can ’ t be immune from it.
” The U.S. has never been a big fan of the ICC , but Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court once the White House decided the ICC could in some cases serve its interests .
Led by the anti-ICC fervor of John Bolton – who rose to become ambassador to the United Nations – the George W. Bush administration initially took steps to weaken and threaten the court .
But the genocide in Darfur , and pressure from U.S. evangelicals to do something about it , prompted President Bush in his second term to see the ICC in a new light .
“ In the Bush first term we even talked of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever jailed there ” by the ICC , says William Burke-White , an expert on international law and institutions at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia .
“ But then the administration comes under political pressure from the religious right to do something about the Darfur genocide , and it realizes the ICC can be a useful tool without putting American lives at risk ” on the ground in Sudan , he adds .
That cooperation continued under the Obama administration .
“ There was very much a sense that , if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could shape its development and direction , even if still from the outside , ” Professor Burke-White says .
At the same time , he adds , the court realized it couldn ’ t do its work without national governments – particularly wealthy ones like the U.S. , with the intelligence , satellite , and technology capabilities the court lacks but needs to undertake complex investigations .
But that growing cooperation came to a screeching halt when two things happened , Professor Burke-White says : John Bolton joined the Trump administration in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser , bringing with him his goal of killing the ICC ; and the ICC moved to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan , including those allegedly committed by the U.S. “ The court was coming under a lot of pressure to show that it didn ’ t just investigate weak governments in Africa , but was able to take on the powerful as well , ” he says .
Christopher Ankersen , a former U.N. assistant to the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia , notes that the ICC was starting to be dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court , particularly in Africa , as a tool of Western powers more than a champion of true international justice .
“ Countries within the African Union started equating the ICC with ‘ northern justice , ’ ” he says , “ and this gave growing credence to the view that the ICC was a hypocritical institution , ” says Professor Ankersen , now at NYU ’ s Center for Global Affairs .
Even some experts in international law who agree with the U.S. position that the ICC ’ s case against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they believe the Trump administration would have been much better off holding the sanctions fire .
Better for the U.S. to have instead made its case among its key allies who hold the ICC purse strings and influence ICC policy and focus , they say .
“ My view is that the ICC investigations into the U.S. and Israel are illegitimate – and it ’ s a view shared by former Obama administration officials as well as hundreds of members of Congress , ” says Orde Kittrie , a senior fellow of foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Democracies and a professor of international law at Arizona State University ’ s Washington program .
The U.S. has been “ willing and able to investigate itself , ” which he says by the ICC ’ s own rules precludes any ICC investigation .
But the sanctions have been “ counterproductive , ” he maintains , as they have alienated key U.S. allies who “ share our concerns about the ICC ’ s operations and failures.
” “ What we should have done is reached out to U.S. allies that provide more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Professor Kittrie says , “ and worked with them to encourage the court to return to its core mission.
” But instead , many experts worry that the Trump administration ’ s sanctions will only further tarnish the U.S. image as a beacon of international justice .
Noting that the U.S. singled out the ICC ’ s two senior African officials , NYU ’ s Professor Trahan says , “ The racial optics are terrible given everything that ’ s going on in our country .
Why did the administration go after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ when there are other high-level people of other nationalities ” in the prosecutor ’ s office ?
“ This is not the first time we ’ ve seen this tension between America ’ s international relations and international law , ” says Professor Ankersen .
“ But to the extent this kind of action from the U.S. encourages others to follow the U.S. lead and disregard international law , it can only weaken U.S. interests .
”

“It’s extraordinarily hypocritical for us to take action like [the sanctions] as soon as that international justice system considers looking at U.S. actions,” says Jennifer Trahan at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. “If the U.S. believes in international justice, then it can’t be immune from it.”
Last week the U.S. went so far as to impose sanctions on two ICC officials, the court’s lead prosecutor and her chief of staff, over the court’s willingness to investigate alleged war crimes committed by belligerents in Afghanistan – including potentially the U.S.
Some critics of U.S. policy say Washington cooperated as long as the ICC was investigating weak, primarily African governments. But when the court decided it might add the U.S. to its docket – well, then, not so much.
In pursuit of justice, the U.S. has helped the International Criminal Court, even as it rejects its jurisdiction over Americans. That delicate imbalance has now morphed into hostility, in the shape of sanctions on ICC officials.
The administration of President George W. Bush assisted in investigating the genocide in Darfur, providing satellite imagery to help locate mass graves. The Obama administration deployed special forces to Uganda in 2011 to help track a militia leader wanted for suspected crimes against humanity.
The United States has never joined the Hague-based International Criminal Court – created in 1998 to try cases of international war crimes and crimes against humanity – but repeatedly has been willing to offer support.
Under a different administration, and despite its lack of membership in the court, the United States might be assisting the International Criminal Court in its investigation of an alleged genocide of Myanmar’s Rohingya minority at the hands of the country’s military in 2017.
The George W. Bush administration assisted the Hague-based court – created in 1998 to try cases of international war crimes and crimes against humanity – in investigating the genocide in Darfur, providing among other things satellite imagery to help locate suspected mass graves.
The Obama administration deployed special forces to Uganda in 2011 to help track down a leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, wanted by the court for suspected crimes against humanity, and shared intelligence of interest for other investigations.
Why We Wrote This In pursuit of justice, the U.S. has helped the International Criminal Court, even as it rejects its jurisdiction over Americans. That delicate imbalance has now morphed into hostility, in the shape of sanctions on ICC officials.
But that past cooperation has turned into virulent antagonism under President Donald Trump. Last week the U.S. went so far as to impose sanctions on two ICC officials, the court’s lead prosecutor and her chief of staff, over the international court’s willingness to investigate alleged war crimes committed by belligerents in Afghanistan – including potentially the U.S.
The financial sanctions cite ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for her “effort to investigate US personnel,” and ICC division chief Phakiso Mochochoko, for assisting the prosecutor.
Trump administration officials describe the imposition of sanctions most often used against terrorists, drug cartel leaders, and officials of hostile governments as a no-other-choice step aimed at preserving U.S. sovereignty and protecting American citizens from prosecution by a politicized global court answerable to no one.
“The United States is a strong advocate for justice around the world, but … [the U.S. has never] accepted” the ICC’s “jurisdiction over our personnel,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week in announcing the sanctions. “The ICC’s recklessness has forced us to this point and … cannot be allowed to follow through with its politically driven targeting of U.S. personnel.”
Moreover, Mr. Pompeo said he was acting to thwart the danger posed by the court to “our allies” – assumed to mean Israel, which has also drawn the attention of the ICC over alleged “war crimes” in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza.
Cooperation, in part
But for many experts in international criminal justice, the U.S. action is the work of a superpower bully that will do nothing to deter the ICC from pursuing the investigations it deems important – including of the U.S. Instead, they add, it will only alienate U.S. allies and major ICC funding members, like the Europeans and Japan, who could have been recruited to help steer the court from focusing on the U.S.
Some experts see the U.S. action in terms of international equity that predate the Trump administration. Despite longstanding issues with the ICC and never having joined the court and its 123 members, the U.S. has repeatedly been willing to cooperate with it and offer material support – as long, some U.S. critics say, as it was investigating weak, primarily African governments. But when the ICC decided it might add the U.S. to its docket – well, then, not so much.
Some nevertheless lament seeing the global power that established and led the postwar international justice system with adjudication of the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials now acting in ways they say risk encouraging bad behavior by despots and human rights violators.
“The U.S. has historically supported and even spearheaded international justice, from the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals [to] the war-crimes cases involving the former Yugoslavia and the Rwanda and Cambodia tribunals – but none of those cases ever risked that an American would be tried,” says Jennifer Trahan, a clinical professor of international law and human rights at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs.
“It’s extraordinarily hypocritical for us to take action like [the sanctions] as soon as that international justice system considers looking at U.S. actions. If the U.S. believes in international justice,” she adds, “then it can’t be immune from it.”
The U.S. has never been a big fan of the ICC, but Washington started developing a working relationship with the court once the White House decided the ICC could in some cases serve its interests.
John Bolton’s stance
Led by the anti-ICC fervor of John Bolton – who rose to become ambassador to the United Nations – the George W. Bush administration initially took steps to weaken and threaten the court. But the genocide in Darfur, and pressure from U.S. evangelicals to do something about it, prompted President Bush in his second term to see the ICC in a new light.
“In the Bush first term we even talked of invading The Hague if any Americans were ever jailed there” by the ICC, says William Burke-White, an expert on international law and institutions at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “But then the administration comes under political pressure from the religious right to do something about the Darfur genocide, and it realizes the ICC can be a useful tool without putting American lives at risk” on the ground in Sudan, he adds.
That cooperation continued under the Obama administration. “There was very much a sense that, if the U.S. engaged with the court, we could shape its development and direction, even if still from the outside,” Professor Burke-White says.
At the same time, he adds, the court realized it couldn’t do its work without national governments – particularly wealthy ones like the U.S., with the intelligence, satellite, and technology capabilities the court lacks but needs to undertake complex investigations.
But that growing cooperation came to a screeching halt when two things happened, Professor Burke-White says: John Bolton joined the Trump administration in 2018 as President Trump’s national security adviser, bringing with him his goal of killing the ICC; and the ICC moved to investigate war crimes in Afghanistan, including those allegedly committed by the U.S.
“The court was coming under a lot of pressure to show that it didn’t just investigate weak governments in Africa, but was able to take on the powerful as well,” he says.
Christopher Ankersen, a former U.N. assistant to the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia, notes that the ICC was starting to be dismissed by weaker nations and frequent targets of the court, particularly in Africa, as a tool of Western powers more than a champion of true international justice.
“Countries within the African Union started equating the ICC with ‘northern justice,’” he says, “and this gave growing credence to the view that the ICC was a hypocritical institution,” says Professor Ankersen, now at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs.
Sanctions “counterproductive”
Even some experts in international law who agree with the U.S. position that the ICC’s case against the U.S. is “illegitimate” say they believe the Trump administration would have been much better off holding the sanctions fire.
Better for the U.S. to have instead made its case among its key allies who hold the ICC purse strings and influence ICC policy and focus, they say.
“My view is that the ICC investigations into the U.S. and Israel are illegitimate – and it’s a view shared by former Obama administration officials as well as hundreds of members of Congress,” says Orde Kittrie, a senior fellow of foreign policy at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and a professor of international law at Arizona State University’s Washington program. The U.S. has been “willing and able to investigate itself,” which he says by the ICC’s own rules precludes any ICC investigation.
But the sanctions have been “counterproductive,” he maintains, as they have alienated key U.S. allies who “share our concerns about the ICC’s operations and failures.”
“What we should have done is reached out to U.S. allies that provide more than 50% of ICC funding,” Professor Kittrie says, “and worked with them to encourage the court to return to its core mission.”
But instead, many experts worry that the Trump administration’s sanctions will only further tarnish the U.S. image as a beacon of international justice.
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Noting that the U.S. singled out the ICC’s two senior African officials, NYU’s Professor Trahan says, “The racial optics are terrible given everything that’s going on in our country. Why did the administration go after [them],” she adds, “when there are other high-level people of other nationalities” in the prosecutor’s office?
“This is not the first time we’ve seen this tension between America’s international relations and international law,” says Professor Ankersen. “But to the extent this kind of action from the U.S. encourages others to follow the U.S. lead and disregard international law, it can only weaken U.S. interests.”