Month: August 2011

Can ‘Space Aliens’ Save Us?

Why is the United States constantly at war? If we look at the last half century or so, there is hardly a time when we haven’t been engaged in some major conflict with a purportedly global threat to our very existence. The first such threat was Germany (on two occasions), and its Japanese fascist ally, … Continue reading “Can ‘Space Aliens’ Save Us?”

Dichter’s Law

“THE PEOPLE Demand Social Justice!” 250 thousand protesters chanted in unison in Tel Aviv last Saturday. But what they need – to quote an American artist – is “more unemployed politicians”. Fortunately, the Knesset has gone on a prolonged vacation, three months. For as Mark Twain quipped: “No man’s life or property is safe while … Continue reading “Dichter’s Law”

Light Violence Leaves Five Iraqis Wounded, While Maliki Lends His Support To Syrian Gov’t

In Mosul, police shot and wounded two men who were tossing grenades at them. The provincial governor’s cousin was kidnapped.

Police in Hilla liberated a female kidnap victim.

The Iraqi Army has surrounded a police directorate in Amara following the possibly illegal sacking of the director-general. Last night, dozens protested in support of Major General Ismail Arrar.>

Three rockets targeting a U.S. target near Muqdadiya were found and dismantled.

Seven suspects were arrested in Diyala province.

Doomsday Defense Cuts?

The debt deal struck by Congress and the president to raise the debt ceiling calls for immediately enacting “10-year discretionary spending caps generating nearly $1 trillion in deficit reduction; balanced between defense and non-defense spending.” Furthermore, a bipartisan “super committee” is created and “tasked with identifying an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, including from … Continue reading “Doomsday Defense Cuts?”