Month: February 2011

This Revolution Will Do Until the Real Thing Comes Along

Neoconservatives like Charles Krauthammer warn that the popular uprising against U.S.-financed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak could easily become a victory for radical Islamists. The neoconservatives scoff at assurances that the Muslim Brotherhood has traded violence for a constructive role in Egyptian society and democratic politics. Indeed, the neocons argue, the Brotherhood, as the best-organized force … Continue reading “This Revolution Will Do Until the Real Thing Comes Along”

A Villa in the Jungle?

We are in the middle of a geological event. An earthquake of epoch-making dimensions is changing the landscape of our region. Mountains turn into valleys, islands emerge from the sea, volcanoes cover the land with lava. People are afraid of change. When it happens, they tend to deny, ignore, pretend that nothing really important is … Continue reading “A Villa in the Jungle?”

Caught in the Headlights

The Obama administration has veered all over the map when it comes to the Egyptian uprising, beginning with Vice President Joe Biden declaring his fulsome support for his dear friend Hosni Mubarak, and refusing to characterize him as a dictator. That Obama’s crew were asleep at the wheel – delegating their response to a figure … Continue reading “Caught in the Headlights”

Cairo and the Impossibility of Intelligent Foreign Policy

Let’s see. We have a minor political dustup underway in London, in which some master diplomat on Top Gear, a British car show, said, “Mexican cars are just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as … Continue reading “Cairo and the Impossibility of Intelligent Foreign Policy”

Kleptocrats at Work

Kleptocracy is as old as government. Exotic car broker Michael Sheehan discovered an amazing case nine years ago when he was invited to purchase rare Ferraris and McLaren F1s from a Brunei collection. He writes about it in the current issue of Sports Car Market. Brunei is a family-owned oil sultanate of 400,000 people located … Continue reading “Kleptocrats at Work”