Several months ago I wrote a post speculating on possible policy responses for the United States if Al Qaeda lodged itself into Yemen’s insurgency. In an attempt to instigate discussion on the matter (a goal that appears to have failed), the post included the following questions: If a terror network were to establish itself in […]
A general note to my readers – The Edge of the American West (in conjunction with H-War) is hosting the annual Military History Carnival on January 17th, 2010. Do not hesitate to submit any posts if you have quality material. Otherwise, join in on the fun on the 17th with the rest of the blogosphere’s […]
After a few weeks hiatus, I am now able to devote some time to blogging. The world has not held still in my absence; over the course of the last month the Lisbon Treaty was ratified, Washington decided to send 30,000 men to Afghanistan, Andhra Pradesh fragmented into two parts, MEND rebels drove Shell out […]
Still busy. However, a few people have made up for my lack of posting with good work of their own. Here are the four pieces published in the last two weeks I found most useful: None Dare Call it a Rogue State Mark Safranksi. Zenpundit. 9 December 2009. A vital post on the insanity of […]
I regret to say that my posting shall be rather sparse until Christmas time. Until then my schedule is too crowded to allow any posts beyond a few links to the places still producing good work. To make up for this deficit of material, I offer this incredibly funny Saturday Night Live skit for your […]
Philippines ‘witness’ recounts killings Al Jazeera. 26 November 2009. This video is the best I have yet seen on the Mindanao massacre. Al Jazeera has once again has trumped Western news organizations in investigative ability. The composure of Ismael Mangudadatu is astounding. To lose a wife and a sister and still have the fortitude to […]
Human Rights Watch sent this gem to my inbox today: Saudi Arabia: Witchcraft and Sorcery Cases on the Rise.Human Rights Watch. 25 November 2009. (Kuwait City) – The cassation court in Mecca should overturn the death sentence imposed on Ali Sabat by a lower court in Medina on November 9 for practicing witchcraft, Human Rights […]
East vs. West — the Myths that Mystify Devdutt Pattanik. TED. November 2009. I endorse this presentation with some hesistance. Pattanik’s presentation is convincing, even brilliant, but there are limitations to the argument he makes. It has been 30 years since the publication of Edward Said’s Orientalism. The book’s publication brought about the collapse of […]
I know I used this line two weeks ago. I ask you to excuse me for recycling it. At the time of the original post I had thought that the CATO headline was the cleverest I was going to see – readings in international affairs are more dry than you would think – but it […]
I have added two new sites to the ‘Naturalist’ section of my blog roll, Yale Environment 360 and Wandering Gaia. Two articles posted at Yale Environment 360 prompted its addition to my feed reader. The first is an essay by Jonathan Foley titled “The Other Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis in Global Land Use”. The abstract […]