Israel and the spread of the Muslim population

The so-called Six Day War took place while I was still working in Iran. I listened with my host on his short-wave radio to reports from the BBC. Hassan was Muslim and felt torn. He was an agricultural engineer who had studied Israeli farming methods and admired them. Iran in those days had a constructive relationship with Israel. I myself was in the Israeli embassy in Tehran.

Politics in Afghanistan

There has been a lot of talk about how knowledge that American and other troops would withdraw from Afghanistan would encourage the Afghanis to step up to the plate and fight the Taliban on their own. That view has been convenient in the US. It suggests that Americans can withdraw without consequence for the war there.

The Devil’s Budgetary Deal

Let’s talk about the budget. The whole business of government deficits has been a political smokescreen for decades.

Conservative, Republican, Activist Courts

Republicans have complained about activist judges for decades. But actually they like activist judges who garble the law.