Notes From All Over 21/08/2010

Joseph Fouche. Committee of Public Safety. 4 August 2010.

This is an important piece that addresses many of the themes found on this site. In good time I hope to write a response to it. Though the author does not claim as much, it lays bare one of the fundamental problems eating away the American political regime, and ought to be distributed more widely.

“Fabius Maximus.” Fabius Maximus. 3 August 2010.

That the executive branch has claimed the authority to execute American citizens without public review is astounding. That the public remains mute in the face of such tyranny is even more so. In particular, this should put to rest the notion that the Tea Parties seek the limitation of the federal government to its constitutional bounds. When this story broke it was already  clear that they cared little about the unconstitutional largess of the security state. My hopes that this would snap them back to reality were in vain.  

 Glenn Greenwald. CATO Unbound. 9 August 2010. 

See the comment above. 

George Packer. The New Yorker. 9 August 2010.

Another well written expose on the decline of the “world’s greatest deliberative body.” Packer’s complaints echo those made by Jessica Senior in New York Magazine earlier this year. As such, this author’s response to Senior’s essay is once again of worth. A link to it can be found below:

T. Greer. The Scholar’s Stage. 29 May 2010.

However, I still recommend you read Packer’s essay. Anyone who bestows the title “tweeting pygamies” to the men and women of the Senate deserves to be read in full.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

Editors. Small Wars Journal. 12 August 2010.

I link not to the article itself, which is subpar, but to the comment thread beneath it. It is quite simply the best thread I have seen in a long time. If only all of Web 2.0 lived up to this promise.

Dominic Delany. East Asia Forum. 20 June 2010. 

Christina Larson. Foreign Policy. 17 August 2010.

Two looks at the future of China.  Xi Jingpi is the next in line to stand as the paramount leader of the People’s Republic. Become well acquainted with his name; it shall be heard much in the future. This post at the East Asia forum is as good as any introduction to the man you will find online.

Chongqing is another name that should be more recognized in the West. The Chongqing administrative area has a population larger than the Republic of China and is by far the largest city in China’s interior. Its development plan is widely seen as a model for China’s future. Unlike the cities of the East, almost all of Chongqing’s production is for domestic consumption. Bo Xilai, governor of Chongqing municipality,  is likewise seen as a rising star in the ranks of the CCP.

“Galhrahn.” Information Dissemination. 19  August 2010

Dennis balsko. China Brief. August 2010.

And two looks at the Chinese navy of the present. Neither needs much in way of introduction; their titles describe their respective content perfectly.

“KK.” Cool Tools.  Not dated.

A tip of the hat to Lawyers, Guns, and Money for pointing me towards this compilation of “the best magazine articles ever.” I am not sure the list is truly deserving of its title.  However, I have not been disappointed yet (though I will concede that I have only read a fraction of its offerings).

William Deresiewicz. The American Scholar. 1 March 2010.

 Mr. Deresiewicz gave this  speech to last year’s incoming group of freshmen at the USMA. I recommend it to all who enjoy the inspirational performances crafted for such occasions. I found particular solace in the speaker’s rebuff of the braggarts proud of the speed with which they write their essays — while more than proficient in the art, I have always found writing to be both slow and laborious. It is interesting to hear one of my cardinal faults championed as an advantage. 

The hat is tipped to Joseph Fouche for this one.