Tag: europe

It’s a Riot!

Europe’s Lawless Summer It is looking like a summer of discontent in Europe. In late May, “youths” in Sweden rioted for several days, torching cars and houses. At the beginning of June, tens of thousands of Turks took to the streets against the Erdogan government. Around the same time, Bosnian lawmakers were held hostage for … Continue reading “It’s a Riot!”

The US Should Leave NATO, Not Shore It Up

With the media focused at the NATO summit in Chicago on the organization’s future role in Afghanistan, President Obama’s plan to strengthen the alliance passed largely under the radar. Even as the United States supposedly “pivots” to Asia to contain a rising China by augmenting alliances with China’s neighbors, the United States is once again … Continue reading “The US Should Leave NATO, Not Shore It Up”

Pro-Business vs. Pro-Market: What’s the Difference?

Many people confuse a “pro-market” orientation with a “pro-business” one. Recent events abroad highlight the stark difference between the two outlooks. Business interests lobbying the U.S. government are sometimes valuable to society and other times harmful. For example, after the 9/11 attacks, opposition to the USA PATRIOT Act — a draconian attack on American civil … Continue reading “Pro-Business vs. Pro-Market: What’s the Difference?”

Russians Refuted US Claim of Iranian Missile Threat to Europe

A diplomatic cable from last February released by WikiLeaks provides a detailed account of how Russian specialists on the Iranian ballistic missile program refuted the U.S. suggestion that Iran has missiles that could target European capitals or intends to develop such a capability. In fact, the Russians challenged the very existence of the mystery missile … Continue reading “Russians Refuted US Claim of Iranian Missile Threat to Europe”

US Could Be Alone as Europe Turns Inward

The relationship between Western Europe and the colonies that became the United States was complicated from the beginning, when the North American settlements were mere appendages of the European powers, and were drawn into their conflicts – King William III’s and Queen Anne’s wars, the French and Indian war involving the Iroquois, and then the … Continue reading “US Could Be Alone as Europe Turns Inward”

European Parliament Set to Approve Snooping Bill

BRUSSELS – Private information on innocent citizens will be handed over to U.S. law enforcement authorities under an agreement slated for approval by the European Parliament this week.In February, members of the Parliament (MEPs) rejected a plan to allow data on everyday bank transactions be given to the U.S., citing concerns over fundamental civil rights. … Continue reading “European Parliament Set to Approve Snooping Bill”

The NATO Nuisance

Large and firmly implanted bureaucratic organizations are almost impossible to kill, even when they have no reason to continue to exist, as NATO has not since the Soviet Union, communism, and the Warsaw Pact all collapsed. There is no equivalent to driving a stake into the heart of a bureaucracy, whose impulse to live is … Continue reading “The NATO Nuisance”

2009 in Review

In America, 2009 was to be the year of Hope and Change. Barack Obama became the new emperor in January, drawing record-breaking crowds and promising a radical departure from the era of Bush II. He ended up maintaining continuity – not just with Bush-era wars and practices, but also with Clinton policies of the 1990s. … Continue reading “2009 in Review”