Mizuho must regain trust through reform

Mizuho Financial Group Inc., one of the country’s three major banking groups, is being put to the test over whether it can evolve into a financial group with a sense of unity by carrying out necessary reforms.On Monday, the company announced a plan to integrate the operations of Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank and other banking units under its wing in a few years.The integration is aimed at reg

May 27, 2011

[Frank Farley] What makes politicians stray?

Last week, Arnold Schwarzenegger joined the club of leading male political figures who are known to have cheated on their spouses. Other members have included presidents (John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example), members or former members of Congress (among them, John Edwards, Newt Gingrich and John Ensign), and governors (including Eliot Spitzer and Mark Sanford).So w

May 26, 2011

What Oprah wrought during past 25 years

On Wednesday, the final episode of Oprah Winfrey’s long-running TV talk show will air. In the 25 years since the show has been nationally syndicated, Winfrey ― or, really, Oprah, since that is how she is globally known ― has made herself a singular force in television and the popular culture. In that period, she has topped the daytime ratings as talk show host, earned an Oscar nomination for her a

May 26, 2011

Libya war shows limits of War Powers Act

Under the War Powers Act, President Barack Obama had until Friday to get congressional authorization to continue U.S. military operations in Libya. But the day passed without his even asking for it, which means he has to disengage within 30 days. Obama may not heed that requirement either.Some members of Congress, from both parties, are unhappy about the administration’s disregard of the law. Six

May 26, 2011

[Jeffrey Goldberg] Palestinians have time on their side

If I were a Palestinian (and, should there be any confusion on this point, I am not), and if I were the sort of Palestinian who believed that Israel should be wiped off the map, then I would be quite pleased with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s performance before Congress this morning. I would applaud Netanyahu for including no bold initiatives that would have suggested to the world that Israe

May 26, 2011

Is ‘perp walk’ unfair to the accused?

The arrest of a leading French statesman and politician, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, on charges of sexually assaulting a New York hotel chambermaid became a transatlantic media spectacle when he was photographed ― manacled and miserable ― being led from a Manhattan lockup. Publishing such pictures is illegal in France, and some commentators there were incensed by the photos of what U.S. reporters call

May 26, 2011

Top IMF post should’t be reserved for Europe

An unprecedented scandal involving the former head of the International Monetary Fund has left the organization’s top post vacant.No time should be wasted in selecting a new IMF chief to ensure the organization will be able to regain its international credibility, which has been diminished by the scandal.Former IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested and indicted on charges

May 25, 2011

[Barry Goldman] Wasps do it, but why should we?

Jacob is a golden retriever. Like many goldens, his favorite activity is retrieving a tennis ball. We throw the ball; he brings it back and drops it at our feet. It can go on for hours. Actually, we don’t know how long it could go on because we always give up before he does.But Jacob sometimes gets stuck when we play this game at my in-laws’ pool. This is because of two fixed, internal rules he ha

May 25, 2011

Obama, Ryan, Gingrich muddle health debate

Love it or hate it, Medicare is driving itself and our country broke. The president’s proposed policy and that of Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, are viewed as miles apart. The reality is different. And the silly name-calling is obscuring their considerable common ground. It’s even confusing a major presidential candidate.President Barack Obama is relying on a special panel, to be

May 25, 2011

[Doyle McManus] Obama’s Mideast policy...shaped by hopes, fears

The United States may be the world’s only remaining superpower, but we’ve been a secondary factor in the wave of change sweeping the Arab world.Tunisia held its revolution without American help, unless you count Facebook and Twitter. In Egypt, President Obama probably helped speed Hosni Mubarak’s departure by withdrawing his backing of the regime, but it was the Egyptians’ revolution, not ours.In

May 25, 2011

IMF chief should come from emerging economy

Finally, Dominique Strauss-Kahn has decided to resign as chief of the International Monetary Fund. The move is to prevent further damage to the institution, which is now playing a critical role in bailing out the peripheral euro-zone countries of Europe. Strauss-Kahn said in his letter of resignation that he wanted to focus his energy on defending himself against criminal charges that he sexually

May 24, 2011

[Charles G. Koch] Economic freedom key to improving U.S. society

My brother David and I have long supported the principles that help societies prosper. I have actively done so for nearly 50 years, as has my brother for more than 40.In recent years, we have stepped up our efforts to deal with the enormous threats to the future well-being of the people of this country. This has prompted some extreme criticism. From the White House to fringe bloggers, we are now b

May 24, 2011

[Donald Cohen] ‘Job killers’ that aren’t

Since 2003, the California Chamber of Commerce has published an annual hit list of bills it labels job killers. The list has included legislation to protect consumers, workers and the environment and to raise revenue to fund public services or support middle- and working-class families.No politician ― Democrat or Republican ― wants to be known as someone who kills jobs, so many of them will avoid

May 24, 2011

[Trudy Rubin] Karzai’s brother: Solve Pakistan problem

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan ― As the war grinds toward its endgame, and administration officials debate how fast to draw down troops and whether to talk to the Taliban, I got a startling earful on both subjects ― from one of Afghanistan’s most powerful and controversial leaders, Ahmed Wali Karzai, President Hamid Karzai’s younger brother.I interviewed AWK, as he is known, in his two-story office behind

May 24, 2011