Ben Tyree

TYREE: Chile re-emerges

Good news came on Saturday of a breakthrough in Chile, where 33 workers were trapped after a mine collapsed two months ago. A deep shaft was opened broadly enough to enable rescuers to pull the men to safety in one of the most impressive feats of survival and national determination in recent years. A smaller shaft drilled nearly two months ago enabled rescuers to supply the trapped men with food and other necessities until they could be rescued via the wider channel.

October 13, 2010

TYREE: Teatime aftertaste

The Tea Party movement has proved itself a political force in the primaries leading up to November's election. Republicans correctly see the widespread dissatisfaction and disappointment with President Obama as promising the off-year elections will favor the GOP - to what degree is uncertain, but handsomely so by most estimates.

September 30, 2010

TYREE: Spend, spend, spend goes the folly

Unlike much foolish federal spending, transportation has drawn a clamor from those wanting the U.S. government to pay for their pet projects for as long as we've had our republic.

March 2, 2010

TYREE: The battle of ideas is pushing back the West

Serious challenges from China are reducing U.S. influence abroad, and America needs to shake up and focus its national security institutions on this problem, says a veteran Republican international relations expert and scholar. Beijing's robust economic and market growth under an authoritarian government is gaining ground as a model for developing nations in the Third World, with China as a sponsor. This, in the words of Stefan Halper, is a key part of a process that is "shrinking the West."

February 17, 2010

TYREE: There’s something about Harry

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, it must be remembered, is a native Minnesotan. So let no one misunderstand the purity of his motives in rising to the defense of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, under fire for having discussed Barack Obama's pre-presidential political prospects in terms of Mr. Obama's light skin and lack of a "Negro dialect."

January 15, 2010