Had Greece quickly written down its debt burden by two-thirds in the first half of 2010, it could have gotten its economy moving again in no more than a year.

This year's G-8 agenda is not glamorous. But by putting its house in order, the G-8 will make a difference in the lives of the poor as well as benefit its own citizens.

While the Obama administration and the media have made much ado about the U.S. "pivot" to Asia, China has been lining up economic allies in Latin America.

Americans don't have to choose between privacy and terror prevention. They do have to decide how much accountability to demand of government surveillance.

Cruise missiles that are difficult to detect, increasingly fast and capable of carrying nuclear warheads are raising the risk of catastrophic conflict in Asia.

During her visit to Japan, Thailand's prime minister dared to talk about the protracted political crisis that followed the overthrow of her brother in 2006.

The Bank of Japan could face a drain of elite talent as foreign financial institutions mull rebooting their activities in Tokyo after the recent market rebound.

America's reaction to the advance by corporate China, including the buyout of Smithfield Foods, is reminiscent of its reactions to the Japanese 20 years ago.

The ultra-easy monetary experiment is impeding the necessary process of deleveraging, threatening central banks' "independence" and raising asset prices.

Whether it is the United States now, or China later, Asia is searching for a model of regional leadership that goes beyond the hegemony of any one power.

While America's "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific continues to hog the limelight, other players also are renegotiating their engagement in the region, including India.

The American public at large is more accepting of the government's involvement in their lives than a 29-year-old former NSA contractor appears to believe.