US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 07/31/14 By Michael Shank and Kate Edelen Oil thefts are growing in Nigeria and threaten stability in the region. An SEC rule could help stem oil-related violence in the Niger Delta. As America’s news coverage of Nigeria continues to focus on the plight of kidnapped […]
Author: Michael Shank
America’s Water Supply Is Going Down the Drain
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 07/02/14 By Michael Shank and U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright Last month’s news that Americans will need to pay more for water comes at an interesting time, just as summer season commences and community pools populate. A survey last month of 368 water utility companies in […]
America Needs a ‘Reset’ in Policy Toward Somalia
POLITIX 07/01/14 By Michael Shank At next month’s Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington D.C., it’ll be important for President Barack Obama to refrain from prioritizing counter-terrorism, resource extractive or aid-only agendas – which is what has dominated White House policies in the past – and pursue, instead, a more just […]
How to Stop Libya Becoming Another Iraq
CNN 06/26/14 By Michael Shank and Najla Elmangoush Editor’s note: Najla Elmangoush is the dean of Centre of Gender Studies at the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies in Tripoli. Michael Shank is the associate director for legislative affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation and adjunct faculty at George […]
U.S. Military Interventionism Has Harmed Iraq Dearly
POLITIX 06/26/14 By Michael Shank Iraq continues to pose a conundrum for the international community. Many in the West feel that Iraq is perpetually ungovernable and that its quagmire finds root cause in something inherent to Iraqi culture or sectarianism. What the West fails to realize is that military interventionism […]
How to Avoid the Same Old Mistakes in Iraq
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 06/18/14 By Michael Shank and Yemi Melka Forget military strikes. The U.S. should address sectarian tension by promoting regional cooperation. The best solution to the Middle East conflict is a policy based in regional teamwork. As fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the […]
American Energy Policy: Government Must Do What’s Right for the Health of its Citizens
CDN 06/17/14 By Michael Shank WASHINGTON, June 17, 2014 — By almost a two-to-one margin, Americans are willing to pay more for cleaner and greener energy. They are willing to support a candidate who addresses the issue of climate change. This is a very good sign as America approaches mid-term […]
Why Americans Are Ready to Pay More Money for Cleaner Energy
HUFFINGTON POST 06/17/14 By Michael Shank The news last week that Americans are willing to pay more for cleaner and greener energy, by almost a 2-to-1 margin, and are more willing to support a candidate that addresses the issue of climate change is a very good sign, especially as America […]
Your Neighborhood Is About to Look a Little More Like Afghanistan
POLICYMIC 06/10/14 By Tom McKay The news: As the United States concludes its messy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military is finding itself left with vast armories of powerful military hardware designed for the streets of Baghdad and Kabul. In order to avoid sending billions of dollars of equipment […]
Embracing Healthier Communities Through Clean Energy
ROLL CALL 06/10/14 By Michael Shank and Rep. Lloyd Doggett When it comes to choosing the right energy to power America’s communities and economies, it’s safe to say that most Americans, if given the option, would choose an energy source much like they might choose a neighborhood in which to […]