Month: December 2006

This year saw the emergence of a sectarian civil war in Iraq and much more open Sunni-Shi’ite conflict in the Middle East. Sunni regimes in the region expressed acute anxiety both about the possibility of the Sunni-Shi’ite civil war in Iraq spreading to their own countries and about the growth of Iranian influence. In that … Continue reading “Bush Iraq Policy Murky on the Real Enemy”

The Trap of Recognizing Israel Jonathan: Interesting and well put together. But I would like to suggest that it does not withstand analysis. It’s fundamental flaw, as in so many arguments of the type, is in the premise: If you accept the premise that recognizing Israel’s right to exist necessarily means the subjugation of Palestinians, … Continue reading “Backtalk, December 29, 2006”

Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson Cambridge University Press, 2006 416 pp. Why are some countries democracies? Why are others dictatorships? The answers obviously are complex. History, culture, tradition, and accident all play a role. So does economics. Daron Acemoglu, a professor of economics at MIT, and James A … Continue reading “Readings in the Age of Empire”

Updated at 11:00 p.m EST, Dec. 28, 2006 As millions of Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, 80 Iraqis were killed and another 110 wounded in violent attacks throughout Iraq today. Also, two American servicemembers were killed and another two were reported dead, bringing the December total of U.S. dead in Iraq to … Continue reading “Thursday: 80 Iraqis, 4 GIs Killed; 110 Iraqis, 1 GI Wounded”

To say that the year behind us has been interesting would be an understatement. On one hand, there were no wars in the Balkans; no insurgencies, pogroms, or massacres. On the other hand, Imperial influence in the region has decreased dramatically, most likely as a direct result of the long defeat it is undergoing worldwide. … Continue reading “The Year Everything Changed”

with Ali Al-Fadhily BAGHDAD – The Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Noori al-Maliki, like earlier governments assigned by U.S. occupation authorities in Iraq, appears to have killed Iraqi dreams of a brighter future. General elections on Dec. 15, 2005 brought in a government that was supposed to listen to Iraqis all over the country. … Continue reading “When Iraqis Gave Up on Government”

In 1996, Sir Robert Cooper published a pamphlet entitled "The Postmodern State and the World Order" [.pdf]. In it, he suggested, "The postmodern world has to start to get used to double standards. Among ourselves, we operate on the basis of laws and open cooperative security. But when dealing with old-fashioned states outside the postmodern … Continue reading “Blair’s Folly”

Updated at 2:05 a.m EST, Dec. 28, 2006 The U.S. military reported the deaths of seven GIs today. Also, two Latvian soldiers were killed and three were injured in a roadside bomb attack, and seven Britons were injured in a separate bombing. Meanwhile, 134 Iraqis were killed and 38 were wounded in violent attacks. U.S. … Continue reading “Wednesday: 134 Iraqis, 7 GIs, 2 Coalition Soldiers Killed”

They’re making a movie about the Litvinenko affair, but if Hollywood hews to the narrative dished out by the British tabloids, then I wouldn’t count on it being a box office hit. After all, the idea that the Kremlin would assassinate such an insignificant "dissident" by poisoning him with $10 million worth of rare polonium … Continue reading “Did the Russian Mafia Kill Alexander Litvinenko?”

The war will still be around – and quite possibly expanding – next week. It’s Christmas again, and the phenomenon I whine about every year – that this country lacks an adequate peace culture – remains a problem. To be sure, there’s a more pronounced antiwar sentiment this year than last year. But the positive … Continue reading “Study War for Peace”