Category: Uncategorized

With the arrest and coming show trial of Slobodan Milosevic, we have several years of the most unpleasant prospects ahead of us. First of all, don’t think it’s going to end with Slobo: already the Bosnian Serbs are being pressured to give up Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic, accused of “war crimes” in Bosnia, … Continue reading “CANONIZING ST. SLOBO”

Are Americans barbarians? The Japanese have every right to think so. It wasn’t until Japanese Prime Minister Junichero Koizumi and his government made a concerted effort to pressure Washington that the US military turned over one US Airforce Staff Sergeant Timothy Woodland to Japanese authorities. Woodland is accused of raping a Japanese woman on the … Continue reading “THE RAPE OF JAPAN”

You can make a case that while Taiwan is mentioned often as a key player in US-China relations, relatively little current reporting is done about the island itself. That’s the impression I got from talking with Ambassador John R. Malott, a retired career diplomat who is currently President of the World Affairs Council of Orange … Continue reading “Taiwan Changes More Important Than US Policy?”

Next week the site of the 2008 Olympics will be decided upon. It is very possible that Beijing will be successful in its bid and China will be rewarded with its first Games, unprecedented international spotlight and an influx of foreigners not seen here since the Qing Dynasty. If successful, it will be largely due … Continue reading “Culture of Pollution”

I read today [July 7] that the NATO powers have delivered a “draft” document to the government of Macedonia setting out the parameters for a proposed revision of the Macedonian Constitution. This, we are told, is the key to peace in the region, the necessary framework for a negotiated settlement of the Albanian-Macedonian conflict. The … Continue reading “LANI GUINIER IN MACEDONIA”

It was a performance worthy of . . . well, of Slobodan Milosevic. The former Serbian strongman, now a prisoner at The Hague, swaggered into the courtroom and refused to cop a plea. Instead, he grandstanded, playing to an imaginary crowd back in Belgrade, in effect refusing to defend either himself or his people. When … Continue reading “MILOSEVIC’S MARTYRDOM”

QUIS CONSTITUIT IPSOS CUSTODES? In 1160 A.D., John of Salisbury, angry at Frederick Barbarossa’s interference in the election of a Pope, famously asked "Quis Teutonicos constituit judices nationum?" – "Who made the Germans the judges of nations?" In our times, there must be many people, the world over, who ask themselves "Who made the Americans … Continue reading “Quis Americanos Constituit Judices Nationum?”

Slobodan Milosevic has challenged the legitimacy of the international war-crimes tribunal at The Hague that now has him in custody, on rather narrow grounds. The tribunal’s legitimacy could form the basis of an interesting discussion, but it’s a bit beside the point. The tribunal has no particular legal standing, but it has power, the ability … Continue reading “More Confusion Than Closure at The Hague”

Last Tuesday, June 25th, marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese from Beijing to Kashgar put on their finest slacks and ties, spent extra money at the barber shop and went to the local danwei recreation center to sing songs of praise. I was watching the most recent music … Continue reading “Sailing Towards World Significance”

I could hardly believe my eyes. Reading an Associated Press story, “Racak Witness Prepares Testimony,” by Colleen Barry, I wondered: ‘Are they really going to haul out that long-since discredited story – again? <<Sigh>> I knew, the moment news of Slobodan Milosevic’s kidnapping hit the wires, that this show trial was going to be a … Continue reading “‘THE TRIAL’”