"Life," the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said, "must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards."
What's true of individuals is true of nations. As we, as a nation, look back in an effort to understand our history, we invariably question some of the decisions we made -- and the horror we tolerated.
After early signs it might try to exert pressure on Iran, China seems to be easing up. Unfortunately for the West, all roads lead through Beijing.
NATO, Moscow up the ante in missile defense row;
Who's in charge of United Russia?
Drone strikes resume, hit al Qaeda #2;
Panetta in India;
U.S. eases way for defense tech transfers to India;
SCO meets in Beijing
Hizb ut-Tahrir rising in Tatarstan;
New law raises the cost of protest