The Afghan messon December 10, 2019The Washington Post just published a story about a secret and highly critical government report on the seemingly endless war in Afghanistan. The report shows that both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations were both lied to and lied about the intervention that began eighteen years ago. As the French might say, this […]
NATO: relevant or a relic?on December 5, 2019This week, NATO heads of state and government gather at the Grove Hotel, the former estate of the dukes of Clarendon outside London, for a summit marking the alliance’s seventieth anniversary. During those decades, the alliance faced many critical cross roads. However, today’s cross roads may be among the most daunting. The central question is […]
Trump’s impeachment: a 21st century firing on Ft. Sumter?on November 26, 2019Donald Trump cannot stay as president. But the House impeachment inquiry is unlikely to provide sufficiently credible evidence for conviction. And if Trump survives this process, a good bet, do not discount his chances for re-election. How can this be? The Trump base will remain loyal to the president regardless of his conduct and whatever […]
End ‘endless’ wars: don’t plan for themon November 14, 2019Donald Trump, along with most Americans, wants to end “endless” wars. But how many Americans know that the Trump defence strategy, a continuation of President Obama’s, may inadvertently be doing the opposite? A key objective of the current National Defence Strategy (NDS) is “to deter and if war comes defeat” a list of potential adversaries […]
The next economic crash: and the band played onon November 6, 2019An economic crash is inevitable. But the most crucial questions are: when; why; and what can be done to prevent or to mitigate a crash? Three earlier economic crashes illuminate a warning. In October 1929, two huge sell offs on Wall Street set off the Great Depression. The causes-in part due to tariffs and the […]
The best, worst or halloween of times?on October 31, 2019Halloween 2019: To Donald Trump and his supporters, America is back, made great again. The economy is booming. Unemployment is at record lows. China has kowtowed in the tariff war. The smartest president in history scored a foreign policy coup in Syria by withdrawing American troops (other than for protecting oil wells) letting the locals […]
An endemic flaw in American foreign policy thinkingon October 24, 2019Donald Trump has been harshly criticized for his foreign policy or, as many believe, the absence of one. His “America First” has led to the withdrawal from key treaties and agreements as well from “endless wars” and a certain downgrading of and even contempt for allies. The recent decision to abandon the Kurds in Syria […]
Are Americans safer or more secure than three years ago?on October 17, 2019In 1980, presidential candidate Ronald Reagan helped unseat Jimmy Carter by asking voters if they were better or worse off than four years ago. With the so-called “misery index” of inflation and interest rates running well into double figures, the answer was clear to most Americans. Reagan won decisively. Today, nearly three years after Donald […]
Can guilt or innocence be established today without facts, truth and reality?on October 11, 2019Did Donald J. Trump break the law by requesting assistance from a foreign government to discredit former Vice President Joe Biden, in this case Ukraine? Or does the president have the authority to solicit such support regardless of the source? If the president is guilty of breaking the law, what is the proper remedy: acquittal, […]
What can possibly go wrong in impeachment: everythingon October 5, 2019For the fourth time in American history, impeachment proceedings have been launched against a sitting president. In 1868, eleven articles of impeachment were levied against Andrew Johnson for violating the Tenure of Office Act by firing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Johnson had vetoed that law; it was overridden; and later declared unconstitutional. Johnson was […]