Topic: Condoleezza Rice

The Vote Mitt Romney VP pick: Convention speaker list offers fresh tea leaves

Pressure is mounting on Mitt Romney to 'go bold' with his VP pick, even if the assumption is that he'll play it safe. A three-day bus tour at week's end is being eyed as a good time to make an announcement.

Opinion: The best pick for Romney vice president? The one no one's talking about.

Speculation over Mitt Romney's pick for vice president repeats the same few names. But there’s another VP Mr. Romney should consider, someone who could help him with the Jewish vote and gain him support in a crucial swing state: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Opinion: Romney and Obama on foreign policy: short on specifics

President Obama and Mitt Romney delivered foreign policy speeches to the VFW this week, but neither offered great detail on how they will deal with a fractious world. With Romney on a trip to Britain, Israel, and Poland, let's hope both candidates put tawdry domestic policy sniping on hold.

Decoder Wire Mitt Romney: Republican 'friendly fire' grows over tax returns

Romney's refusal to release more tax returns is drawing sharper barbs from members of his own party. Could the vice presidential pick stem the criticism?

Opinion: The threat to American democracy that Romney and Obama aren't talking about

It's called the civics gap. Only one-third of Americans can name all three branches of government. Education reform's focus on high-stakes testing has sidelined civics education. To save American democracy, Romney and Obama must discuss how to help schools educate engaged citizens.

Wyoming fundraiser: Romney gets boost from Cheney

Decoder Wire What's really driving veep buzz about Condoleezza Rice?

Condoleezza Rice probably won't be Mitt Romney's running mate. But all the speculation highlights just how starved this campaign is for excitement.

Why Tim Pawlenty remains high on Mitt Romney veep list

On Thursday, Condoleezza Rice became a hot topic as a vice presidential candidate. So, why is Tim Pawlenty still considered a better choice for Mitt Romney by some political pundits?

Opinion: Ehud Olmert could be Israel's comeback kid – and make peace with Palestinians

After his acquittal from key corruption charges former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is well positioned as a comeback kid in Israeli politics. If Olmert does return, the political discussion in Israel is going to change, with renewed focus on the Palestinian question.

Africa Monitor Equatorial Guinea: Ignorance worth fistfuls of dollars

Guest blogger Vukasin Petrovic asks why US retains positive ties with Equatorial Guinea's long-ruling president Teodoro Obiang Nguema, despite evidence of brutality, corruption, and neglect of his people.

We Egyptians are still marching forward toward democracy

Contrary to the global perception that Egypt is sinking into chaos, presidential election debates reflect hope for a new Egypt. Open debate between secular and Islamist groups was unthinkable over the past 60 years. This openness means the Egyptian body politic is maturing.

Private Empire

Pulitzer Prize-winner Steve Coll takes a close look at secretive behemoth that is Exxon Mobil.

Brittney Griner and Baylor women perfect, beat Notre Dame for NCAA title

Brittney Griner has been the dominant player in women's college basketball the past three years. Brittney Griner and her Baylor teammates defeated the Fighting Irish Tuesday night to complete an undefeated season.

Education report: Shortcomings of US schools pose national security threat

Former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein cochaired a task force that released its report Tuesday.

Forget Ohio. For Mitt Romney, Tennessee is real Super Tuesday prize.

Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich are in a three-way tie in Tennessee. It would be a huge symbolic victory if Romney were to win this Southern state on Super Tuesday. Here's why. 

Mario Monti is working through Italy's debt crisis. Is the US watching?

Italy may find Prime Minister Mario Monti's dose of discipline hard to swallow, but his depoliticized democracy is the only form of government that can move Italy forward. Monti's experiment may also serve as an antidote to the political dysfunction in the West – especially the US.

Opinion: Ex-CIA spy: History of failed negotiations shows Iran won't deal

President Obama errs in pushing nuclear negotiation, writes this ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Four US presidents tried and failed. The problem lies in Iran's fanatic ideology. Biting sanctions and US overt support for the Iranian people will bring real change.

Interview: Former US spy chief sees shift toward Asia

In an interview, Admiral Dennis C. Blair - the former director of national intelligence - says the US needs to back moderate Islamic societies, and urges Israel to keep pace with a changing Middle East.

Backchannels Israel says ... Iran isn't building a nuclear weapon

If Israeli media reports are correct, Israel shares the US and European views of Iran: That it isn't seeking a nuclear weapon at the moment.

Thirty ideas from people under 30: The Change Agents

They are explorers and activists, artists and educators, farmers and faith leaders – even mayors. And they have trenchant suggestions on how to improve the world.

'Most admired' list: Gingrich up, Palin down; Obama, Clinton still No. 1

For two years running, President Obama is the man Americans most admire, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is again the most-admired woman, a new Gallup survey shows. But the public’s views of other politicians shifted noticeably in 2011.

Killing the Cranes

After decades in Afghanistan, a Monitor journalist offers a memoir and field report.

7 gifts for history and geography fans

Stumped as to what to buy for that nephew who can name every president or the uncle with maps all over the house? Here are some of the best of the season's new geography and history books, from a history of both Bush presidencies to the latest edition of the magnificent Oxford world atlas.

After Herman Cain, the GOP has a credibility crisis with black voters

Even before Herman Cain suspended his presidential campaign, Republicans faced a crisis with black voters. The GOP has never been able to garner more than 12 percent of the black vote – not with black appointees; not with black candidates. The party needs to become more progressive.

Super committee and California: Can they each break through dysfunction?

The nation's capital and the capital of the nation's most populous state both seem dysfunctional. But even as the congressional super committee looks set to fail, a bipartisan group of high-profile Californians is readying ballot initiatives to reengineer state government, including tax reform.