First impressions matter. Experts say we size up new people in somewhere between 30 seconds and two minutes.

Pundits are used to analyzing the gap between what our ideals suggest and what our security interests require.

Two presidents pursued human rights policies that were serious and effective, Reagan and George W. Bush. They understood that American support for human rights activists is a moral imperative for us and also makes the world safer for us.

Persecution of Christians is growing around the world, and Congress needs to pay more attention to it.

Elections matter, but how much they matter depends entirely on how free, open and fair they are.

Pessimism is rife in Israel.

I grew up in Queens, in New York City, in a middle class Jewish family. My mother was a public school teacher, my father was a lawyer. They were Democrats - kind of middle-of-the-road democrats.