Nations have grievances. Look at the Balkans, always fighting over some mid-fourteenth century slight. But most leaders have the good sense to recognize that the rest of the world might find their problems slightly ridiculous. Asif Zardari, widower of Benazir Bhutto and possessor of big enough balls to become famously corrupt in Pakistan – reflect, [...]
Archive for the ‘Military’ Category
Blame
Posted in Military, South Asia, Weapons of Mass Destruction on December 11, 2009 | 4 Comments »
The Wrong Way, Slowly
Posted in Middle East, Military, Obama, South Asia, War on Terror on December 7, 2009 | 7 Comments »
For the first seventeen years of the Peloponnesian War, Athens and Sparta fought to something of a draw. Sparta dominated the land, but could not breach Athens’ walls. Athens dominated the sea, but could not march inland with enough force to defeat Sparta.
91 Years
Posted in China, Foreigners, France, Germany, Middle East, Military, Russia on November 11, 2009 | 4 Comments »
The First World War ended ninety-one years ago.
Home Court Advantage
Posted in China, Corruption, Dick Cheney, Energy Policy, Foreigners, France, Labor Policy, Meltdown, Middle East, Military, Obama, Russia on October 16, 2009 | 5 Comments »
Once upon a time, there was a hedge fund named Hermitage Capital. Its head was Bill Browder, and it had the clever idea, back during the Yeltsin Administration, of investing Western capital in Russia. It worked spectacularly well, until it didn’t: Browder is a smart guy. He made a lot of money and managed to [...]
Rock and a Hard Place
Posted in China, Foreigners, Middle East, Military, Russia, War on Terror, Weapons of Mass Destruction on September 29, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Even as we wobble towards a coherent Afghanistan policy, Iran continues to be a massive thorn in our side. What do we do when all of our options are terrible?
Second and Crazy
Posted in Foreigners, Gun Control, Military on September 17, 2009 | 9 Comments »
When it comes to firearms, crazy is never crazy enough: The Senate voted on Wednesday to allow Amtrak passengers to carry unloaded and locked handguns in checked baggage, even though Amtrak officials had raised concerns that the proposal could present “numerous challenges.” The measure was sponsored by Roger Wicker (R-MS): “Only the federally subsidized Amtrak [...]
Perspective
Posted in Dick Cheney, Foreigners, George W. Bush, Military, Obama, War on Terror on September 14, 2009 | 10 Comments »
Undeterred by his own attorney general and common sense, Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon intends to prosecute Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo, Douglas Feith, William Haynes, Jay Bybee, and David Addington (collectively, the “Bush Six”) for their role in providing the legal framework for Guantanamo: On Saturday, however, Público reported that Judge Garzón had accepted a lawsuit [...]
Reform Week: Foreign Policy
Posted in Dick Cheney, Foreigners, George W. Bush, Middle East, Military, Obama, South Asia, War on Terror, Weapons of Mass Destruction on September 11, 2009 | 7 Comments »
Eight years.
Balanced Budget 101
Posted in Industrial Policy, Labor Policy, Military, Obama, Peter Orzag on August 20, 2009 | 11 Comments »
Warren Buffett, occupying the role of avuncular billionaire once held by Ross Perot before he turned out to be absolutely insane, has an article in the New York Times advocating a balanced budget. At least, that’s what I think he is advocating; he runs from specifics with the dogged determination of Habermas: Slowing them down [...]
Black Gold
Posted in Industrial Policy, Mexico, Middle East, Military, Transportation Policy on August 18, 2009 | 15 Comments »
Brazil has announced that it wants the national oil company, Petrobras, to control all future deep-sea oil resource development. Ever since Lazaro Cardenas nationalized Mexico’s oil reserves it has been the dream of oil-producing nations to control the wealth beneath their lands. Two can play that game. But it takes courage and communication, and I [...]
