America Abroad

Unlike Western nations, China doesn’t demand democratic reform or human rights standards when engaging with states with weak or failing governments. Syria is a case in point.

For many of the Syrians in Turkey who fought in, or rooted for the opposition, the bloodshed is ending in death and destruction with no freedom.

Turkey is making advances in its scientific infrastructure — like its brand new astronomical observatory. But the new science curriculum for high schoolers leaves out the theory of evolution.

“There is a history of unexpected threats emerging from unexpected places, as we learned from Afghanistan. It is in both our national security interest and in line with our values to help fragile states.”

“Of course we have echoes of what’s happening in the region, but when you put scientists together, they tend to talk about science.”