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

The ransoming of captives has been practiced by Jews for many centuries and has been regarded as a greater obligation than charity for the poor.

The Obama administration rarely demonstrated the ability to shift gears and change policy in its first year. Even in the face of historic events such as the continuing demonstrations against Iran's regime, it stuck devotedly to prior plans.

Honduras was the original 'banana republic,' and its poverty remains extreme.

The question was never whether the United States, E.U., NATO, Arab League, U.N. Security Council, and African Union could together using economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and military attacks to bring Qaddafi down. The question was always how much time, how much blood, and what damage to NATO.

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

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