The Centrality of Central Asia
The Wilson Quarterly has an excellent short article, “Rediscovering Central Asia,” by S. Frederick Starr, that offers an overview of contributions to human culture that emerged from Central Asia and…
Foreign Affairs
A Very Exciting New Book
I’ve been extremely busy lately (meaning work until 4 am frequently, plus travel) and have been behind on some writing projects, but I am really, really pleased that I brought…
A Speech I gave over 19 years ago…
Still reads well: “Why Socialism Collapsed in Eastern Europe” (I gave it as a lecture at a Cato University summer seminar on political economy in California during the summer of…
Go, Georgia, Go! Limit the State!
EurasiaNet.org: GEORGIA: SAAKASHVILI WANTS TBILISI TO BECOME “GOVERNMENT-LITE” Ilia Chavchavadze The Georgian leader used a reference to a national cultural icon, the revered 19th century novelist Ilia Chavchavadze, to sway…
Where is the “Peace” in the Peace Prize?
Nobel Peace Prize winner President Obama is escalating the war in Afghanistan and has made no additional moves, beyond what the Bush administration had planned, for any withdrawal from Iraq….
Time to Look to a Peaceful Future
BBC: “Turkey, Armenia to restore ties” Arguing over the nature or magnitude of crimes in the past is not necessarily a bad thing, unless it gets in the way of…
LA Times on Obama’s Trade Policies
Los Angeles Times: “Obama and free trade: What’s the deal?” Nine months into his administration, Obama’s trade policy is a pastiche of pro-trade rhetoric, violations of international agreements and protectionist…
Free Traders at the G20
on CNN iReporter
Is it Illegal to Remove a Sitting President?
Yes, if done according to the law. (Richard Nixon was certainly impeachable, and would have been impeached had he not resigned; the articles of impeachment were drawn up and voted…
Update from Honduras
Miami Herald: “They’re torturing me, Honduras’ Manuel Zelaya claims” Honduras’ fallen leader told The Miami Herald he is being subjected to mind-altering gas and radiation — and that `Israeli mercenaries’…