Aug 26, 2024
Why on Earth
Why on Earth would a guy like Trump welcome an endorsement from persons who have so much on tape that contradicts exactly what he has beensaying? RFK…
Music, power, politics, and the stories behind the stories.
Editorial Collection
Politics, Power & the Middle East
Independent commentary from someone who distrusts slogans, tribes, and simple answers.
I was raised around Washington, Damascus, Cairo, and Beirut, studied politics and economics, and spent a career watching public stories collide with private motives. I write about American politics, international affairs, Israel and Palestine, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, media power, religion, capitalism, democracy, and the consequences that disappear from partisan talking points.
I am pro-enterprise and anti-authoritarian, but not a party mascot. A useful argument begins with facts, includes the inconvenient ones, and remains willing to criticize its own side.
Entries
181
Apr 23, 2024
If one is an Atheist
The biggest problem of the One God idea as opposed to the many gods of old is that if there is only one then opposing views must be wrong.
Apr 16, 2024
Heads in the sand
We can blame Iran for its "unfortunate" positions and hope the regime will change or fall. But we cannot just assume that Israel is blameless.
Apr 15, 2024
John Bolton's view
I wonder what John Bolton would say if Mexicans in Texas decided to rejoin Mexico
Apr 14, 2024
Iran-Israel
Interesting to hear Senator Marco Rubio on CNN discuss the Iran-Israel news of yesterday. He refers to Israel as the "Jewish State". By definition he…
Apr 13, 2024
Iran vs Israel and Trump
It is amazing and a great lesson in marketing that if one is prepared to outright lie it is a great advantage and nearly impossible to counter. In…
Apr 13, 2024
Surprise!
Israelis must be scratching their heads in disbelief these days. Most governments and Westerners generally have been too afraid to criticize Israeli…
Apr 12, 2024
Inconvenient truths and learning from history.
The US Constitution was written before the realities of today were known. Checks and balances is a great idea BUT there are no checks and balances…
Apr 9, 2024
Israel & Hamas
Sat April 6 What is the difference between Hamas and Israel? Each side points fingers at the other and both miss the point, 1. Israel is a state…
Feb 22, 2023
Antioch
Antakya? Never heard of it before the recent earthquake that devastated SW turkey and NW Syria. Oh you mean Antioch? Heard of that. Dates back over…
Feb 20, 2023
How soon we forget
This evening I had the misfortune of flipping across my TV channels and came across an interview between Tulsi Gabbard and Tucker Carlson on FOX…
Feb 20, 2023
Moldova
The Russian play book is at work now in Moldova. Russian operatives are stirring up descent and pro Russian propaganda against the current government…
Feb 8, 2023
Turkey
For all the complaints about the "over reach" of government as it relates to regulations, when we see the devastation in Turkey we should realize all…
Feb 5, 2023
The friends you keep
For all the talk by Putin and his spokesmen that Russia is going to win the war in Ukraine, the penny has still not dropped that the West cannot…
Dec 26, 2022
End Game
US TV shows give a lot of coverage to Ukraine even as the disclosures of the June 6th committee keep coming. Some commentators mention the idea of an…
Dec 24, 2022
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is alive and well in the 3 one god religions. How many Christians do you know that support the idea of "Turn the other cheek"? How many…
Dec 22, 2022
FOX
I have never been a fan of Tucker Carlson. Never trusted his practiced sincerity. He tells lies so well with a straight face that one can see why he…
Dec 16, 2022
Dec 16, 2022
The unfortunate truth of the war in Ukraine is that it is beginning to dawn on everyone that the only way to end it is the assassination of Putin…
Dec 14, 2022
December 2022
Well its Christmas time again and the world is still deep in trouble. Burying one's head in the sand is alive and well it seems, 1. At least there is…
Apr 19, 2022
From Democracy to Totalitarianism
The "progress" of Putin from his appointment by Yeltsin, Bush peering into his soul, the Russians singing his praises like a pop star to ever more…
Apr 19, 2022
What might have been
If Putin had managed to conquer Ukraine in a few days as he seems to have intended, he might have gotten away with it. A quick fait accompli as…
Apr 18, 2022
Damned if you do damned if you dontl
Today of Fox News Kevin McCarthy was again trying to attack the Biden administration for not sending arms before the Russian invasion apparently…
Apr 12, 2022
Comedy
On my brief look at what Hannity was saying on Fox I was surprised to see he is still pushing the idea that President Biden is not all there and the…
Apr 12, 2022
Fake F-16s
As Putin claims the Russian forces are doing well, NOT killing civilians and what Ukrainians they do kill are Nazis - Bucha is fake news and photos…