From Aid to Advantage

April 24, 2025 - Earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged responsibility for a March 19th tank strike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, that tragically resulted in the death of a Bulgarian aid worker affiliated with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and injuries to nine others. According to the IDF, the strike was based on a misidentification during a high-pressure operational environment. The site, later identified as a U.N. guesthouse, was not recognized as such at the time of the incident. The situation underscores the extraordinary challenges that arise in densely populated conflict zones, where both military and humanitarian actors operate under difficult and often unclear conditions. The IDF has committed to investigating the circumstances and improving procedures to avoid similar outcomes in the future. International organizations, including the United Nations, have voiced concern over the growing risks to humanitarian personnel in conflict areas. I...

April 17, 2025 - There’s nothing more American than the belief that if you work hard, you should be able to build a better life. Yet today, millions of our fellow citizens are doing everything right—working long hours, raising families, serving their communities—and still find themselves stuck in cycles of hardship that threaten their dignity and potential. A recent Forbes article by Aisha Nyandoro highlights a reality that too many Americans know firsthand: for far too long poverty in our country doesn’t just mean earning less, it often means paying more. From inflated fees and fines to limited access to affordable services, low-income Americans face obstacles that make it difficult to move forward, no matter how determined or disciplined they are. This isn’t just a financial problem. It’s a test of our national character. When hardworking Americans are punished by the very systems meant to support them, it’s time to take a step back and ask: are we living up to our founding promise...

April 10, 2025 - Today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held a hearing concerning allegations made by Sudan related to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in West Darfur. While legal proceedings continue, the larger issue at hand is clear: rising instability in Sudan has created ripple effects with global consequences, from displacement and violence to serious disruptions in trade and economic cooperation. Since 2023, over 24,000 lives have been lost and more than 14 million people displaced in the region. But this crisis isn’t just a distant tragedy it has a direct impact on American businesses and supply chains. Why Stability in Sudan Matters to the U.S. Economy Sudan plays a strategic role in global trade, particularly through the export of essential goods like gum Arabic, a key ingredient used by American companies in soft drinks (like Coke and Pepsi), candies (like M&Ms and Gummy Bears) snack bars (like Clif Bar and Nature Valley) multivitamins, cough syrups, face creams,...

April 2, 2025 - A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar last Friday, claiming over 2,700 lives and leaving thousands more injured or displaced. In a nation already burdened by civil conflict since 2021, the disaster triggered a rare and temporary ceasefire—scheduled to last until April 22—as both government and opposition forces shift focus toward emergency response. This humanitarian emergency lays bare a sobering reality: while natural disasters are sudden, the devastation they cause is often worsened by long-standing challenges like poverty, political instability, and underdeveloped infrastructure. In Myanmar’s case, access to clean water is dangerously limited, health systems are overwhelmed, and many rural areas remain unreachable. In these moments, the ability to respond quickly and effectively, often with international support, can make the difference between stability and chaos. But it’s not about the U.S. footing the bill. American leadership in global development ...