THE QUESTION

With the U.S. presidential primary season in full swing, there's a lot of talk here about "change" vs. "competence" in leadership. Which does your country have more of? Is that a good thing?

Posted by Lauren Keane on January 30, 2008 1:26 PM

FROM THE PANEL

Dr. Njogu is C.E.O of Twaweza Communications. He was previously Associate Professor of African languages and literatures at Kenyatta University.

No Need for Either/Or Leadership

Let’s not assume change is always a good thing.

Kimani Njogu Nairobi, Kenya | 3 COMMENTS
Jan 31, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Ignacio Gil Vázquez is the managing editor of Spain’s second largest circulation newspaper, El Mundo. He previously served as foreign correspondent in France and as Culture section editor. He has covered wide-ranging events throughout his career, including the Basque conflict, Catalan politics, Francois Mitterrand’s final years as president of France, his successor Jacques Chirac’s election, and the death of Princess Diana.

Experience Not Welcome

Ignacio Gil Vázquez Madrid, Spain | 3 COMMENTS
Vivian Salama is an award winning reporter, producer and blogger. She has reported for various publications from across the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, the United States and North and South Korea. She has also appeared as a commentator on the BBC, South African Broadcasting Corp., Iran's Press TV, NPR and as a reporter for Voice of America radio. A native of New York, Salama is currently based in Dubai where she reports for The National. Salama has an MA in Islamic Politics from Columbia University and she previously worked as a lecturer of international journalism at Rutgers University.

Change, Yes, But Cut the Rhetoric

Vivian Salama USA/Middle East | 12 COMMENTS
Saul Singer is Editorial Page Editor and author of the weekly column “Interesting Times” for the Jerusalem Post. He is the author of Confronting Jihad: Israel's Struggle and the World After 9/11. Before moving to Israel from the Washington area in 1994, Mr. Singer served for ten years as an advisor on the personal and committee staffs of the United States Congress, including the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Banking Committee, and Senator Connie Mack.

In Israel, No Change for Change’s Sake

Saul Singer Jerusalem, Israel | 3 COMMENTS
Carlos Alberto Montaner   |  Mona Eltahawy   |  Daoud Kuttab
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READER RESPONSE

» Cristina | This is not just a "good thing". It is essential, almost vital whether the current situation looks bleak or promising. But I think these are intertwi...
» Ashraf Sabrin | The author's observations are correct; but not well balanced. They suffer from the same fatalistic and doomed tone of voice that the melancholic avera...
» Anonymous BE | Government programs, such as Social Security under F.D. Roosevelt, were also innovations and changes. There is a need for a program of national healt...
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