The ‘Necessary’ Hegemon Revisited

Lately, we have been hearing quite a lot from our Cousins across the water. All eaten-up with post-imperial malaise and envy of US leaders’ apparent good fortune, the Cousins are hard at work handing out friendly advice on how best to rule the world. They gave us a lot of advice just after 1763, if … Continue reading “The ‘Necessary’ Hegemon Revisited”

BOGUS FROM THE BEGINNING

As the lies of the War Party come unraveled, we find that, like a sweater with a loose thread, if we pull on one lie the whole thing comes apart. When disinformation from forged documents purporting to show Iraq’s efforts to procure uranium in the African country of Niger somehow found expression in the President’s … Continue reading “BOGUS FROM THE BEGINNING”

We’ve Been Neo-Conned

The modern-day, limited-government movement has been co-opted. The conservatives have failed in their effort to shrink the size of government. There has not been, nor will there soon be, a conservative revolution in Washington. Political party control of the federal government has changed, but the inexorable growth in the size and scope of government has … Continue reading “We’ve Been Neo-Conned”

‘IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT’

Never mind those weapons of mass destruction, said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to the Senate armed services committee: “The coalition did not act in Iraq because we had discovered dramatic new evidence of Iraq’s pursuit of weapons of mass murder. We acted because we saw the evidence in a dramatic new light, through the … Continue reading “‘IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT’”

Howard Dean? Antiwar!?

Only in 2003 could a 5’8" politician named Howard be considered a favorite for a major party’s Presidential nomination. Yet that is exactly what has happened with former Vermont Governor Dean. His supporters point to his strong showing in the recent "MoveOn.Org Presidential Preference Primary" as well as to the surprising strength in his campaign’s … Continue reading “Howard Dean? Antiwar!?”

Worthless Words

Driven by the demand for information about the Balkans wars, a veritable mountain of books, pamphlets and papers have been produced over the course of the 1990s, purporting to explain and analyze tragedy of former Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, this quantity did not translate into anything resembling quality. Most of what’s been written about the fighting in … Continue reading “Worthless Words”

Rumsfeld’s Rules

In a little-known 1974 document entitled "Rumsfeld’s Rules," the Secretary of Defense offers his philosophy on life and work. But how well does Rumsfeld follow his own rules? Here’s a sampler of quotes from the text, followed by Rumsfeld’s actual performance. 1. "You and the White House staff must be seen to be above suspicion." Rumsfeld … Continue reading “Rumsfeld’s Rules”

Rumsfeld’s Rules

In a little-known 1974 document entitled "Rumsfeld’s Rules," the Secretary of Defense offers his philosophy on life and work. But how well does Rumsfeld follow his own rules? Here’s a sampler of quotes from the text, followed by Rumsfeld’s actual performance. 1. "You and the White House staff must be seen to be above suspicion." Rumsfeld … Continue reading “Rumsfeld’s Rules”