So what about Egypt, eh? Is there anything more amazing than the relatively spontaneous gathering of humanity to peacefully declare freedom for itself? This following Tunisia must bring up comparisons to Eastern […]
The wrong side of history
Aw, we were just getting STARTed
After the poetic rhetoric in Prague, it was tempting to think that Obama might be headed in the right direction on at least one issue. I’d be willing to forgive just about […]
Who needs a police state when the state polices itself?
Last week, Homeland Security approved a program “giving law enforcement officials and others the ability to view data obtained from satellite and aircraft sensors that can see through cloud cover and even […]
First-strike capability doesn’t just describe Hillary’s debate style
The recent Clinton-Obama exchange over nuclear weapons was much scrutinized, especially by the right. ABC News reported it thusly: “Regarding terrorist targets in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region, Obama told The Associated Press Thursday: […]
The Bush Quartet
The war maestro’s magnum opus requires two more wars. As a country founded on the principle of majority rule, most of us have yet to accept that a small cabal of extremists […]
Hubris: something both Democrats and Republicans have in common
The image to the right is a Japanese representation of the “black ships” commanded by Matthew Perry which, in 1853, forced open trade with Japan for US commercial interests. A few may […]
Talking with Persia, spreading out the carpet
By Robert Silvey Shortly after 470 BCE, following years of triumph as the leader of wartime Athens, Themistocles was accused of treachery against the city. He escaped the death sentence and traveled […]
Democrats give Dubya billions to pay Halliburton – I mean, for the Iraq war – meanwhile, he announces al Qaeda’s winning…and he thinks Osama’s lonely….
From the “Our elected representatives don’t give a damn what we the people want done as long as they’re not incurring His Majesty George’s displeasure” desk: This just in – George W. […]
Realpolitik in Iran: unknown unknowns
The problems of realpolitik are these: their nuances are not ours, and our nuances are not theirs. The Iranians have chosen to hold hostages representing people opposed to George Bush’s policies in […]
Likee the capitalist dictatorship model?
A friend of my former father-in-law told me what he considered a humorous anecdote once that has haunted me ever since: I was an active member of an organization of retired executives […]
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 