Author: Michael Shank

Is It Time to Withdraw From Afghanistan?

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 03/06/12 By Tierney Sneed Violent protests in Afghanistan after an inadvertent Koran-burning lead some to argue that it is time for America to get out Three months since withdrawing from Iraq, the Obama administration is acknowledging the challenges American forces are facing in another President […]

The U.S. Afghanistan Strategy Is Failing and It’s Time to Pull Out

US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 03/06/12 CHICAGO TRIBUNE 03/07/12 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) The recent Koran burning protests are just the beginning of the problems America has in Afghanistan. That the U.S. military is burning Korans and urinating on dead bodies is, without question, bad […]

German Lessons for US Manufacturing

FINANCIAL TIMES 03/07/12 By Michael Shank and Thorben Albrecht Sir, With reference to your report (“Romney talks China to Ohio”, US Politics & Policy, March 2): if the candidate is looking for manufacturing answers, take a lesson from Germany. Losing 4m jobs over the past 10 years, US manufacturing has […]

World Bank Needs Jeffrey Sachs

THE HILL 03/01/12 By Michael Shank With Robert Zoellick stepping down from the World Bank helm, there is no better time for a development economist with solid on-the-ground and substantial international experience – like Dr. Jeffrey Sachs – to take his place. There are three clear reasons for this. The […]

Germany’s Lesson for U.S. – Keep Faith With Workers

CNN 02/24/12 By Michael Shank and Thorben Albrecht (CNN) — As Germany continues to rise as lead survivor — and decision-maker — in the European Union’s economic mire, the U.S. would do well to take a lesson from the country’s economic model, particularly in manufacturing. Losing 4 million jobs over […]

Candidates Should Address Cost 
of Violence in Primary States

THE HILL 02/17/12 By Michael Shank 
and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) As the Republican candidates head to Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen’s state of Tennessee next month for the Super Tuesday primaries, one topic seems to have escaped their attention entirely: a credible economic cure for what ails the states in […]

New Virginia Gun Law Will Boost Violence, Costs

WASHINGTON TIMES 02/17/12 By Michael Shank By lifting the gun purchase limit, the state of Virginia can expect to see a lifting of its violence limits as well (“Va. Senate votes to repeal one-gun-a-month law,” Web, Feb. 6). Virginia already has one of the highest rates of availability of small […]

Will Republicans Suggest an Economic Cure in Nevada?

AL JAZEERA 02/04/12 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) As the Republican candidates depart the southeast United States to head to Nevada, one topic seems to have escaped their attention entirely: a credible economic cure for what ails the states where they’re waging their campaigns for president. […]

Climate Change Fight Includes Private Sector

ROLL CALL 01/25/12 By Michael Shank and Melissa Powell With last month’s climate talks in South Africa postponing specific carbon cuts until 2020, it is clear that something more than mere nation-state commitments will be needed to counter climate change and reduce global warming. With nations reluctant to recommit to […]

Time for the Peace Vote?

WASHINGTON POST 01/24/12 By Michael Shank It is ironic that Amish and Mennonites — arguably some of the least politically active Christian sects in America — settled in some of the most politically important regions of the country, in states that are critical for their primary caucus value or swing […]