The average American would believe that the nation's need for substantial nuclear fuel, oil, natural gas, and coal will soon be a distant memory, based on the Obama administration's strident emphasis on developing "alternative" energy sources. The reality, however, is quite different.

If the administration is serious about properly resourcing an American military emphasis in the Pacific while not taking our eye off the ball everywhere else, the president must send over a budget that proposes to reverse the decline of the Navy’s size, fleet, and readiness. Anything less should be called out for what it really is: a strategy that says one thing and a budget that does another.

President Obama's core message in his Wednesday press conference, his first since March, could be found in his advice to Republicans. "Are you willing to compromise your kids' safety so some corporate-jet owner can get a tax break?'"

India's problems do not stem from crony capitalism but crony socialism, the continued hold of an often corrupt and inept political class on economic decision making. Like most countries, India could do with greater competition and fewer barriers to entry for new businesses. But it's India's politicians and bureaucrats who need reining in, not its billionaires.

Recently, Ireland, Iceland, and Estonia have been added to the list of fast growing small countries, and Montenegro will soon have one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe.

Conventional wisdom holds that the Navy and Air Force escaped the budget drill mostly intact while the Army endured the bulk of cuts. But the truth is that all of the services are shrinking and aging under the Obama budget.

Exporting nations need to understand that the negative consequences from the imposition of export restrictions will often outweigh the short-term gains.

Under the Obama administration, government's pets use government to get policies that will give them competitive advantages and stifle smaller competitors.