Machiavelli did believe that it was better to appear to be good than to be good. If you're good, you're just too vulnerable, but if you appear to be good, you get all the benefits plus you can be sneaky and, when necessary, stab someone in the back. David Ignatius backbenefitgood share on social
Make the financial industry pay for its mistakes. That's the idea behind the best of the Obama administration's reform proposals: If banks issue securities backed by mortgages, say, then require them to hold some of that paper so that they will bear some of the losses. David Ignatius administrationbackbank share on social
Journalists couldn't do their jobs overseas without taking risks, and the same is true for diplomats and intelligence officers. David Ignatius diplomatintelligencejob Change image and share on social
The surest way to empower the new terrorist gangs would be to withdraw from U.S. diplomatic missions. David Ignatius diplomaticempowergang Change image and share on social
Moscow and Washington have evolved a delicate process for 'de-confliction' in the tight Syrian airspace, where accidents or miscommunication could be disastrous. David Ignatius accidentairspaceconfliction Change image and share on social
It's easier for China to assert its maritime power by creating artificial islands in the South China Sea than by defying the U.S. Pacific Fleet with an aircraft carrier. David Ignatius aircraftartificialassert Change image and share on social
Hedge-fund managers make too much money relative to their social utility. I wish their rewards were a bit closer to those of, say, schoolteachers. David Ignatius biteclosefund Change image and share on social
I'm as prone to 'declinism' as the next over-mortgaged middle-aged guy. David Ignatius agedeclinismguy Change image and share on social
CIA officers aren't idiots. They knew they were heading into deep water - legally and morally - when they signed up for the interrogation program. That's part of the agency's ethos - doing the hard jobs that other departments prudently avoid. David Ignatius agencyavoidcia share on social
The nation's chronic weakness is its political system, which is nearing dysfunction. If the U.S. can elect better political leadership, it should be able to manage problems better than most competitors. David Ignatius chroniccompetitordysfunction share on social
