David Brooks

Jan 1, 2025 | timesfreepress.com | David Brooks

Americans used to be enthusiastic about the idea of progress. If you had attended any of the World's Fairs that were put on over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries in cities including Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago and New York, you would have seen great festivals celebrating the wonders of the future. If you went to Disney World, you could have visited Tomorrowland and the Carousel of Progress.

Oct 28, 2024 | english.aawsat.com | Ghassan Charbel |David Brooks |Emile Ameen |Nabil Amr

Amos Hochstein, the American envoy to Lebanon, is in a race against time. A handful of days separate the world from the US presidential elections. The US and the whole world are awaiting the name of the new master of the White House. The world reads about the weakening of the West and reduced role played by the United States. It reads about the rise of China and the BRICS group and their economic weight and population. It reads about China’s rise and the diminishing role played by the West.

Oct 28, 2024 | english.aawsat.com | Sam Menassa |Ghassan Charbel |David Brooks |Emile Ameen

It was broadly assumed that, with Sinwar and Nasrallah out of the picture, it could become easier to reach a deal that would end the war in both Lebanon and Gaza and allow the 101 hostages still held by Hamas to return to their homes. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly demonstrated his talent for foiling settlements, is showing no signs of changing his military-annihilative approach.

Oct 21, 2024 | timesfreepress.com | David Brooks

Two big things baffle me about this election. The first is: Why are the polls so immobile? In mid-June the race between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump was neck and neck. Since then, we've had a blizzard of big events, and still the race is basically where it was in June. It started out tied and has only gotten closer. We supposedly live in a country in which a plurality of voters are independents. You'd think they'd behave, well, independently and get swayed by events. But no.

Aug 26, 2024 | english.aawsat.com | Ghassan Charbel |Hazem Saghieh |Tariq Al-Homayed |David Brooks

Ending a war is more difficult than deciding to wage one. The one backing down must offer a convincing story. He must offer explanations and justifications. He must compare the losses and gains and declared goals and which of them were achieved. He must say if he feels more secure after the fighting stops, and if the end of the war is just a truce in preparation for other wars. Ending war was easier in the past because they were waged by armies that receive orders from governments.