Angry Arab gets angry with me. I find his arguments to be rather absurd, frankly. And I’m happy to answer his question about when, exactly, I would support a Hezbollah attack on Israeli troops. The answer: never. At least as long as those troops are stationed in Israel and not in Lebanon. What on earth [...]

Israel has further escalated its attack on Lebanon, unleashing its air force on the Beirut international airport, some main highways, military bases and power plants. Israel most certainly has the right to respond to the kidnapping and murder of its soldiers by the Hezbollah. Crushing the infrasructure of Lebanon, however, is a rather disingenuous and [...]

We interrupt the solemn debate over Glenn Greenwald and Glenn Reynolds to bring you a snatch of news from the real world: With Israel now mounting an invasion of southern Lebanon and with Washington and Tel Aviv blaming Syria (and Iran) for the latest killing and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers, we are that much closer [...]

I’m embarrassed to admit that only ten days after the fact do I know learn of the passing of a genuine political hero, the former mayor of Managua and candidate in the upcoming Nicaraguan presidential elections, Herty Lewites. Indeed, I had been planning to go to Nicaragua this fall to cover his campaign. Unfortunately for [...]

Let me count the ways I am grateful: I’m delighted that the federal budget deficit this year is a mere $296 billion and not $423 billion. I’m pleased that this is only the fourth biggest deficit in American history and not the second biggest. I’m thankful that this deficit has been run up so that [...]

Memo to the MacArtur Foundation: Please grant one of your Genius Awards to George Lakoff as soon as possible. But please make sure to earmark the funds for continuing work in his original field of linguistics. And make him promise, please, pretty please, to butt out of politics. I met Lakoff six or seven years [...]

There’s only one problem with George W. Bush’s policy of “more of the same” from Iraq. All he’s going to get is more of the same. The same negative press coverage, simply because the situation is so damn bleak. The President and his supporters can stand on their heads and repeat until they and we [...]

The post below this one, on Israel’s disproportionate response in Gaza, has provoked an unusually lively debate among our commenters. The Middle East always does. One of the strands lacing through the discussion is the relative silence of liberal blogs on the matter of Israeli war policy (which after all is generously underwritten by U.S. [...]

Are we in the midst of a third Intifada? Or something even worse? Like an all-out war? The Palestinians issued a general call to arms on Friday, after Israeli forces pushed deeper into the Gaza strip and after a new round of air strikes. Nearly two dozen people (22 Palestinians and 1 Israeli) were reported dead in [...]

Yes, it’s been six months since Jack Abramoff admitted to gross corruption and to bribing public officials. So, quick now, can you name what Congress has done about it? Not much, to put it politely. Back then everyone, it seemed, was reform. A half-year later ethics reform is what’s being called a “fading concern.” Now, [...]

Got back home last night after a few days of refreshing sun-baking in the local desert and and I intend to slowly ease back into a work routine (it seems down right un-natural to do any work of any sort once the temperature tops 90 degrees). I did take some time out from my holiday [...]

I’ll keep this brief as I’m still on mini-vacation. The bad news: the North Koreans have gone ahead and defiantly launched a set of test missiles, including a long-range model. No one should be unconcerned about the combination of nukes, missiles and the North Korean political leadership. The good news: The long-range missile fizzled and [...]

Still on movies as I lurk in semi-seclusion for another few days (No, I haven’t bumped into Dick Cheney yet in this bunker). I finally saw United 93 last night and was impressed how its makers masterfully avoided all cheap sentimentality, over-the-top jingoism and facile racism. One of the best flicks I’ve seen in a [...]

Still in secluson in a secure, remote location. But I saw Superman Returns tonight and thought it was fab. Much better than Bergman’s Wild Strawberries.