Moral Equivalence
Here and there we’ve heard a few voices saying that the abuses of Iraqi prisoners were not as bad as Saddam’s, as though that were some kind of excuse. Equally…
Politics
A Catalogue of Abuse…and Shame
A friend from India came by today and found me depressed by the horrible events and activities that have come to light in Iraq. He said that, in the long…
Disgusting Treatment
I just saw the BBC broadcast (link is to print story; click on “Video” to watch the broadcast) on the abuse of prisoners by a few U.S. soldiers. The soldiers…
Do Letters to Congress Matter?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Anyone reading this is on the net. And most readers will be opposed to military conscription. I hope that everyone who opposes the draft will take just…
Pat Tillman and Other Casualties
The death in Afghanistan in combat of former football player Pat Tillman is just the latest in a series of deaths that have led me to reconsider my attitudes toward…
Of All the Dumb Ideas!
Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is calling for a renewal of conscription, but almost certainly with both a military and a civilian servitude option. I was very active in the…
Another View on Iraq
Justin Logan, a very bright fellow with whom I work, has posted a response to the opinions I expressed on Iraq below. I’ll try to find a bit of free…
A Foreign Policy for Adults
If one believes, as I do, that the invasion of Iraq was a terrible mistake, what implications does that have for current policy? Does it follow that one should advocate…
American-European Comparisons
It’s a pleasure to be involved in the editing of a brilliant book, and that’s the project to which I’m devoting the weekend. (That and working with a friend who’s…