If Only Bill Gates
Made Foreign Policy

Sometime in the mid-1990s, during the roaring days of globalization, the high-tech boom, and a soaring market, I published a commentary in the Business Times titled “One Bill’s Washington vs. the Other Bill’s Washington: Guess Who Is Winning?” I actually wrote the piece upon my returning from a visit to the Microsoft “campus” in Redmond, … Continue reading “If Only Bill Gates
Made Foreign Policy”

Impunity Endures Two Years After Abu Ghraib

WASHINGTON – Two years after the abuse by U.S. soldiers of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq first came to light, accountability for what turns out to have been a widespread pattern of mistreatment at several detention sites, including torture and at least eight homicides, remains elusive, according to a new report released by … Continue reading “Impunity Endures Two Years After Abu Ghraib”

Is the War Party Really Reduced to This?

As an occasional past subscriber and more regular buyer of The Spectator, my recollection of the magazine was that it had improved over recent years. Having bought the April 15 issue on impulse, though, I was really quite shocked at the poor quality of the main editorial, “Our Own Cuban Missile Crisis” (access requires subscription). … Continue reading “Is the War Party Really Reduced to This?”

Turkey Masses Troops
on Iraqi Border

Life for Kurds in northern Iraq is about to get a lot more complicated. The Turkish army has begun massing troops on Iraq’s northern border in an effort to combat the Kurdish armed group the PKK. In the last week, the Turkish government has sent about 40,000 troops to southeastern Anatolia, bringing the total troops … Continue reading “Turkey Masses Troops
on Iraqi Border”

It’s Not About Democracy

According to the new National Security Strategy of the United States of America promulgated in March 2006: “It is the policy of the United States to seek and support democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. In the world today, the fundamental character … Continue reading “It’s Not About Democracy”

McCarthyism: Mary and Joe

As additional information on the firing of CIA official Mary McCarthy just 10 days short of her retirement becomes available, what is afoot is becoming quite clear. We are witnessing a Stalinesque show trial sans the actual trial and inevitable execution. The purpose is intimidation, not extermination. We should be thankful for small favors, I … Continue reading “McCarthyism: Mary and Joe”

Afghan Farmers Fight Ban on Poppy Growing

KABUL – Agitated poppy farmers in western Herat province say they will not destroy their crops unless the Afghan government provides them with alternative sources of income. "I will not stop growing poppy despite the ban by the government because I’ve no other source of livelihood," asserted Ghulam Sakhi, 45, from the Nahr-i-Farhad area of … Continue reading “Afghan Farmers Fight Ban on Poppy Growing”

Interesting Times

Spring in the Balkans News from the Balkans over the past week almost created the impression that this was just another ordinary region in the Empire’s periphery, where local rustics practice entertaining eccentricities and cope with natural disaster. The greatest flood in 100 years along the Danube has attracted a lot of attention, as has … Continue reading “Interesting Times”