Just the Facts, Please

The folks who prepared the U.S. Government’s leaflets raining down with the bombs on Afghanistan can be forgiven for having left out a few key points. Here are excerpts from the leaflets, with some facts afterward. From "The Partnership of Nations is Here to Help," Leaflet #2: "Since the time of the Soviet invasion, Afghanistan … Continue reading “Just the Facts, Please”

Just the Facts, Please

The folks who prepared the U.S. Government’s leaflets raining down with the bombs on Afghanistan can be forgiven for having left out a few key points. Here are excerpts from the leaflets, with some facts afterward. From "The Partnership of Nations is Here to Help," Leaflet #2: "Since the time of the Soviet invasion, Afghanistan … Continue reading “Just the Facts, Please”

IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

Bullied and herded by the leaders of both parties, our witless Solons in Washington passed the “USA PATRIOT Act” by a huge margin. Since the bill wasn’t even printed before the vote, they couldn’t possibly have read this 372-page document. But even if they had read it, it’s doubtful they would have balked at passing … Continue reading “IT CAN HAPPEN HERE”

Is There a Constitution?

I now proceed to answer my own question: If the events of the last few weeks are any guide, then of course there is no Constitution. This should hardly come as a surprise to those high-minded liberals who have been hawking the virtues of a flexible, plastic, evolving Constitution for many decades. Yet, some of … Continue reading “Is There a Constitution?”

Long and Winding Road Toward Peace

I don’t necessarily consider John Hume, the prominent Northern Ireland politician who was co-recipient (with "moderate" Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble) of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, a source of wisdom on ultimate principles. But he has experience with conflicts in his part of the world that might be useful in other parts of the … Continue reading “Long and Winding Road Toward Peace”

I Love America. Do you?

I love America. I love every concept the Statue of Liberty stands for – that individual liberty is held above the objectives of government; that, as Washington and Jefferson said, America imparts good will toward all and threatens no one; that this country is so big-hearted and prosperous it can welcome people from all over … Continue reading “I Love America. Do you?”

DEATH & THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

James Taranto’s usually quite boring “Best of the Web” column in the online Wall Street Journal gave me a chuckle the other day as I read his witless attack on Harry Browne, under the sophomoric subhead “Stupidity Watch”: “Another reason we’re not libertarian: Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party’s standard-bearer in 1996 and 2000, pens a … Continue reading “DEATH & THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

LET’S DECLARE VICTORY

The military campaign against the Taliban has fulfilled the expectations of Pakistan’s ruler, General Musharraf, who hoped it would be "short and sharp.” And so it was. All of a sudden, the scent of victory is in the air. Last week, according to our disgruntled hawks, the war was "stalled," and Senator John McCain and … Continue reading “LET’S DECLARE VICTORY”