Chuck Spinney: Political Fluff on Iraq vs Real-World Appraisals

After running for President in 2008 on a platform that criticized Iraq as a “dumb war,” Barack Obama just declared America’s misbegotten Iraqi adventure to be an “extraordinary achievement” in a speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg. That declaration of success is not enough for Congressman Duncan Hunter, who took Obama to task, saying, “And …

2011 Robert Steele: Global Trends 2030 – Gaps + RECAP

UPDATE 11 December 2012:  The report is now out.  The below commentary was posted 12 December 2011, one year prior to the final report.  Global Trends 2030: Full Copy (166 Pages) Here, Review by Robert Steele — Report Lauds Fracking as Energy Solution, Disappoints on Multiple Fronts Although Global Trends 2030 will not be released …

Theophilis Goodyear: Panarchy versus Anarchy – Non-Hierarchal, Network-Controled Governance + Panarchy RECAP

“Non-Hierarchal, Network-Controled Governance” Is a Better Term Than Anarchy For me, the anarchy argument is a philosophical can of worms. It’s like pulling a loose thread on a suit that never ends. Bryan Kaplan Ph.D. (of George Mason University), in his Anarchist Theory FAQ makes a pretty good case that the only thing anarchists have in …

Penguin: The Heart of Darkness is Empire

Britain’s Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt by Richard Gott – review The violence at the heart of colonialism is exposed in Richard Gott’s history Richard Drayton Guardian, 7 December 2011 Amazon Page for Reviewer’s Book Nature’s Government “We insisted on reserving the right to bomb niggers.” So David Lloyd George explained the British government’s demand …

Marcus Aurelius: Col Paul Yingling, Departing

I’ve never met COL Yingling, but he is somewhat famous (infamous?) within the Army.  He has survived his earlier article, provided second below, and even gotten promoted, apparently recently.  So now he’s sitting in a somewhat idyllic spot, specifically Garmisch, a couple of years short of qualifying to retire as a colonel.  He’s again frustrated …