Month: March 2007

Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution Michael D. Tanner Cato Institute, 2007 321 pp. The Republican Party once presented itself – and was even widely thought of – as the party of limited government. Today it is something quite different. Actually, it is many different things. It is the … Continue reading “Leviathan on the Right“

The times, they sure are a changin.’ Why, it seems like only yesterday – although it was December 16, 1998 – that Nancy Pelosi opined: “As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam … Continue reading “The Pelosi-crats and the War”

The March 14 Los Angeles Times contained that rarissima avis, good news from Ramadi: "The commander of U.S. troops in Iraq wanted some sweets, and nothing was going to stop him. Not even the fact that he was tramping through a neighborhood that only days ago had been teeming with snipers and al-Qaeda fighters who … Continue reading “Flickers of Light”

Updated at 12:50 a.m. EST, Mar. 23, 2007At least 51 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and 42 were wounded during light violence. Three American servicemen were killed in separate incidents as well. Also, a mortar rocked a building where UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki were giving a press … Continue reading “Thursday: 3 GIs, 51 Iraqis Killed; 42 Iraqis Wounded”

Watch Ron Paul’s speech on video. The $124 billion supplemental appropriation is a good bill to oppose. I am pleased that many of my colleagues will join me in voting against this measure. If one is unhappy with our progress in Iraq after four years of war, voting to de-fund the war makes sense. If … Continue reading “Defund the War”

Eight years ago this week, NATO launched an aerial attack against then-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on the pretext of halting the "conflict" raging in the Serbian province of Kosovo between the Albanian separatists and the Yugoslav military and police. The attack followed an ultimatum presented to Belgrade at Rambouillet, in the form of a peace … Continue reading “Collision Course”

Updated at 12:50 a.m. EST, March. 22, 2007After a couple of days of elevated violence, attacks have tapered off a bit. However, at least 72 Iraqis were killed or found dead today and another 88 were wounded. No foreigners were reported killed.U.S. forces in Taji killed five gunmen, detained three and destroyed an alleged bomb … Continue reading “Wednesday: 72 Iraqis Killed, 88 Wounded”

Christopher Hitchens isn’t sorry. Not about being a Commie all those years ago; after all, he was a Trotskyite, not one of those icky Stalinists, which merits a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. Not about being frequently drunk in public: after all, it’s part of his image as the Courtney Love of punditry. And, … Continue reading “The Dead-Enders”

Halliburton’s move from Houston to Dubai has aroused predictable concerns about security. Halliburton is known to be a major defense contractor, and the rulers of Dubai are undeniably Arabs, albeit Arabs who are demonstrably among America’s closest allies. On one level, the announcement appears to have unleashed emotional Arab-bashing based on the same reservoir of … Continue reading “Picking on Halliburton”

Updated at 1:14 p.m. EST, Mar. 21, 2007During a second day of increase violence, at least 143 Iraqis were killed or found dead and 124 more were injured. Most of the incidents were small in nature with the exception of a clash near Fallujah that left almost 60 people dead. Also, two American servicemembers were … Continue reading “Tuesday: 143 Iraqis, 5 GIs Killed; 124 Iraqis Wounded”