Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Trudy Rubin: U.S. must insist on Afghan women’s rights during negotiations

  March 28, 2012 in Opinion on Page A11 What will happen to Afghan women? As the United States winds down its presence in Afghanistan and tries to talk to the Taliban, will Afghan women pay the price? Will … 2

• Trudy Rubin: End of talks threatens Israel

  August 3, 2011 in Opinion on Page A11 It’s time to start thinking about what will happen to Israel – and U.S. policy in the Middle East – when the peace process ends. Politicians don’t openly discuss the … 7

• Trudy Rubin: Obama and the timeline

  June 21, 2010 in Opinion on Page A7 It was one of those ohmyGod moments. Gen. David Petraeus was testifying Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. John McCain was pressing him for his opinion on the …

• Trudy Rubin: U.S. guidance still needed in Iraq

  April 25, 2010 in Opinion on Page B8 BAGHDAD – In the lobby of the Iraqi foreign ministry hangs a large poster with photos of 42 men and women killed when a truck bomb exploded outside their offices … 1

• Trudy Rubin: Kid gloves needed for Karzai

  April 13, 2010 in Opinion on Page A9 KABUL, Afghanistan – When Afghan President Hamid Karzai was meeting with provincial governors recently, he looked at his dinner and remarked, “Maybe the foreigners put some poison in my food.” … 1

• Pakistan arrest a good sign

  February 23, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 There’s been a flood of news coverage of a major U.S offensive against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. But a less-heralded operation that’s just been made known could be more …

• Reject idea of war with Iran

  February 16, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 Sarah Palin has suggested that President Barack Obama could improve his re-election prospects by declaring war on Iran. “Say he played the war card,” she told Fox News’ Chris Wallace. … 3

• Iran hurting its cause by holding U.S. hikers

  February 8, 2010 in Opinion on Page A7 More U.S. and international attention should be focused on the plight of three American hikers who have been languishing in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for six months. … 2

• Trudy Rubin: Afghan strategy needs focus

  February 2, 2010 in Opinion on Page A9 U.S. officials attended the London Conference on Afghanistan last week to rally international support behind that country. But I feel obliged to ask an unpleasant question: Does the Obama team …

• Trudy Rubin: New realities limit U.S. options

  January 8, 2010 in Opinion on Page A17 Over the holidays, I worked on a disturbing project. It reminded me that American power abroad is shrinking, even as threats to our security grow. It involved my Iraqi driver, …

• Trudy Rubin: Honor those who died for right to speak out

  December 21, 2009 in Opinion on Page A7 In this Christmas season, I want to pay tribute to two unsung heroes who stood up to repressive regimes – and paid with their lives. One was Iranian, one Russian, …

• Trudy Rubin: Pakistan must build on wins

  November 29, 2009 in Opinion on Page B8 MINGORA, Pakistan – The road to the legendary Swat Valley twists through the Malakand Pass and beneath the Malakand Fort, from which young Winston Churchill sent newspaper dispatches about a …

• Trudy Rubin: Hope for change within Iran

  August 5, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 Neda Agha-Soltan’s memorial ceremony took place Thursday, 40 days after she was shot through the chest during a demonstration in Tehran. Neda was the music student whose face became the …

• Trudy Rubin: Al-Maliki offers hopeful vision

  July 29, 2009 in Opinion on Page A9 Given the 130,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq, it’s striking how little attention the media paid to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s visit to Washington last week. Maybe Americans, or …

• Trudy Rubin: Sea change possible in Iran

  July 22, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 In Tehran University’s huge prayer hall, the Islamic regime’s most powerful clerics deliver heated Friday sermons to thousands. These diatribes are normally accompanied by the chant “Death to America!” But …

• Trudy Rubin: Direct talks with Iran off the table

  July 5, 2009 in Opinion on Page B8 Now that Iran has officially confirmed its tainted election outcome, President Barack Obama must reconsider how to deal with the regime. The big question is whether Obama should junk his …

• Trudy Rubin: Window open in Pakistan

  May 28, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 Finally, some good news from Pakistan. The United States has a dramatic opportunity to help roll back gains made by Taliban militants. Simultaneously, they can reverse widespread Pakistani public hostility …

• Trudy Rubin: Pakistani-Afghan threat real

  April 21, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 I am writing this column en route to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Of all the pressing foreign-policy items on President Barack Obama’s plate, bar none, the Afghanistan-Pakistan front is the most …

• Trudy Rubin: Fireside chat with Petraeus

  April 16, 2009 in Opinion on Page A13 When Gen. David Petraeus testified on Capitol Hill recently about the new U.S. policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the story was relegated to the inside pages of major papers. What …

• Trudy Rubin: In relations, next move is Iran’s

  March 31, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 If you want to know how President Obama is changing America’s foreign-policy strategy, watch the short video in which he wishes Iran’s people and leaders a happy Nowruz. Nowruz is …

• Trudy Rubin: Help Afghanistan help itself

  March 12, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 The world may be collapsing, but some individuals won’t let that stop them from working for change in its most troubled corners. This is a good time to spotlight two …

• Trudy Rubin: Afghanistan strategy merits a look

  February 26, 2009 in Opinion on Page A11 When President Barack Obama announced last week that he was sending an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan, I thought of David Kilcullen. Kilcullen is a former Australian military officer who …

• Trudy Rubin: Hamas’ defeat requires truce

  January 16, 2009 in Opinion on Page A13 At her confirmation hearings Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton insisted President-elect Barack Obama would not give up on Mideast peace – even though the region’s problems seem “intractable.” Nothing seems more …

• Trudy Rubin: Healing in Ameriyah

  December 31, 2008 in Opinion on Page B4 BAGHDAD – Christmas week is an appropriate time to write about a district here called Ameriyah. Eighteen months ago, Ameriyah was a hellhole where al-Qaida in Iraq ran rampant, assisted …