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Iranian Nukes: The Debate Continues

by robertrosenkranz on May 6, 2015

Illustration by Thomas James for Intelligence Squared U.S.

In his recent piece in The Daily Beast “Obama’s Iran Nuke Deal: Winners & Losers,” Les Gelb’s overview of the recent Iran negotiations argues that “the emerging arrangements on Iranian nuclear programs announced Thursday are a clear plus/plus for both sides. Only those who don’t want any deal see it otherwise.”

The implication is that only ideologues will oppose the agreement. But is the matter that clear?

Since 2006, Intelligence Squared U.S. has presented three debates that trace America’s relations with Iran and its nuclear ambitions: In 2006, “We Must Tolerate A Nuclear Iran,” in 2009 “Diplomacy With Iran Is Going Nowhere,” and in 2013 “Israel Can Live With A Nuclear Iran.” Just this week we announced a debate on the current negotiations: “Obama’s Iran Deal Is Good for America.”

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robertrosenkranzIranian Nukes: The Debate Continues

Recommended Reading: Napoleon (the Great?)

by robertrosenkranz on April 21, 2015

Let me begin with a disclosure: Andrew Roberts is a good friend, and a member of the Intelligence Squared Advisory Council.  He is a brilliant historian, but has been called a shameless name-dropper.

Thus, I am sure he wouldn’t mind my mentioning that at a dinner I hosted in honor of this book he more than held his own in debate with Henry Kissinger and Boris Johnson. His recent biography is titled Napoleon in America and Napoleon the Great in Britain.  And therein lies the debate.

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robertrosenkranzRecommended Reading: Napoleon (the Great?)

Eight Percent Tax Free With A Government Guarantee

by robertrosenkranz on April 14, 2015

Originally Published in The Huffington Post on April 14, 2015 by Robert Rosenkranz

What’s the catch?

The catch is that the guarantee is from the government of Puerto Rico.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is US territory. Its residents are US citizens who can move freely to any of the 50 States. In some ways they have the best of all worlds: all the privileges of US citizens, but an exemption from federal income taxes. And Puerto Rico, though it is not a State, has the privilege of issuing municipal bonds. Interest on those bonds is free from US taxes. Typical municipal bonds pay 3 percent returns these days. But Puerto Rico’s municipal bonds pay 8 percent or more.

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robertrosenkranzEight Percent Tax Free With A Government Guarantee

Best Business Columns of The Week: A Critic Of Inequality Backtracks

by robertrosenkranz on March 19, 2015

Originally Published in The Week, March 21, 2015

Best Columns: Business
By Robert Rosenkranz, The Wall Street Journal

“A critic of inequality backtracks”
French economist Thomas Piketty became the darling of the “redistributionist” crowd when his tome Capital in the Twenty-First Century became a big-think sensation last spring, said Robert Rosenkranz.  

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robertrosenkranzBest Business Columns of The Week: A Critic Of Inequality Backtracks

Russia: An Evolving Debate

by robertrosenkranz on February 20, 2015

Ridicule, ostracization, a failing economy – The Economist admits that regarding Putin “as a success might seem bleakly comical.” But is the West misjudging him? There are two Intelligence Squared U.S. debates that have explored Russia’s power struggle in depth over the last decade: “Russia Is Becoming Our Enemy Again” (2007) and “Russia Is A Marginal Power” (2014).

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robertrosenkranzRussia: An Evolving Debate

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