Monthly Archives: November 2008

“Vatican told bishops to cover up sex abuse” The Guardian

"The Vatican instructed Catholic bishops around the world to cover up cases of sexual abuse or risk being thrown out of the Church. The Observer has obtained a 40-year-old confidential document from the secret Vatican archive which lawyers are calling … Continue reading

Posted in Religion | 49 Comments

The Events of the Day

India The Mumbai attacks are, I think, illustrative of the difficulty that any society or set of security forces experience in a surprise transition to war from relative peace.  The Pearl Harbor attack was an example of this experience. Confusion … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 22 Comments

Guantanamo and Human Rights

"Judge Leon, in a ruling from the bench, said the information gathered on the men had been sufficient for intelligence purposes but not for the court. He said the government’s case, which contended that the five men planned to travel … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 36 Comments

How low will oil go?

By now, those of you who are interested have noted that the price of crude dipped balow $50/barrel today. You may also have noticed that I have thought for some time that much of the price range that was achieved … Continue reading

Posted in Oil | 25 Comments

The Logistics of Withdrawal

Ladies and Gentlemen We have received the two appeals posted below from Major Ed G. now at a student in the Army schools at Ft.Leavenworth, Kansas. I ask that you help him with his research to the extent that it … Continue reading

Posted in Ukraine Crisis | 20 Comments

“Premier of Iraq Is Quietly Firing Fraud Monitors”

http://www.maxwaugh.com/images/tanzania07/leopard2.jpg "The government of Prime Ministe Nuri Kamal al-maliki is systematically dismissing Iraqi oversight officials, who were installed to fight corruption in Iraqi ministries by order of the American occupation administration, which had hoped to bring Western standards of accountability … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 18 Comments

The Obama Plan for the ME?

"Barack Obama is to pursue an ambitious peace plan in the Middle East involving the recognition of Israel by the Arab world in exchange for its withdrawal to pre-1967 borders, according to sources close to America’s president-elect. Obama intends to … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 41 Comments

University of Oklahoma Appearances

I will be at OU for a few days.  I have been invited to speak tomorrow evening on realistic negotiating prospects in the Middle East.  I will visit with a few other people on campus as well; seminars, radio station, … Continue reading

Posted in Ukraine Crisis | 6 Comments

Saudi Arabia and Religious Toleration?

"The conference provides an opportunity for Saudi Arabia, which prohibits the public practice of non-Islamic faiths, to present a more tolerant image on the world stage. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the terrorist attacks on the United States on … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 20 Comments

A Question of Consumers

“But the conservatives had their revenge. What the Republicans under Reagan did was to suddenly announce that government was bad, and the less you had of it, the better. Reagan undid a whole, vast field of regulations on security marketing, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 41 Comments