Notre Dame

Francois Guillot | AFP | Getty Images

 

As heartbreaking as it is today, the thought came to me just now of a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia I took in the early 90s. We had traveled down the Volga River from Moscow to St Petersburg, and the highlight was, I believe, St Petersburg.

St. Petersburg, on the Neva River, the pride of the Tsars, was as beautiful as Moscow was drab. Even 75 years under the Communists could not completely extinguish its beauty. I have a book of prints I made, and one of these days I will have to scan them to post on the Net.

An Unwanted Guest

After nearly 7 years, and a change in government in Ecuador, apparently Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has worn out his welcome.

“We aren’t going to allow Ecuador to be turned into a center for hacking,” she said. “And we can’t allow illegal activities developed in the country to harm citizens from Ecuador or other countries or any government.”, said Ecuador’s  Interior Minister,  María Paula Romo.

Mr. Maduro

“Aerial view of the Tienditas Bridge, along the border between Cucuta, Colombia, and Tachira, Venezuela, after Venezuelan military forces blocked it with containers, Feb. 6, 2019.” Courtesy Voice of America

It wasn’t long ago that Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America, and Caracas one of the most prosperous communities.  They have more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia and more poverty than Columbia today.

The deterioration of their oil industry began with the election of Hugo Chavez.

MORAL EQUIVALENCY WATCH

Posted by lex on August 30, 2004

 

From time to time, I’ve had the occasion to discuss why I won’t argue America’s interaction with the world from a zero-sum, morally neutral point of view.

Here’s why .

Back To The Index

A Good Op-Ed on the Mattis Resignation

Was in the WSJ today. According to them, James Mattis resigned after being blindsided by President Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria.

James Mattis is one of those men whose leadership style should be emulated by those wanting to be great leaders. Lex, who I think was also one of those rare leaders, admired James Mattis with an anecdote.

I’ve read today good arguments – pro and con, about Syria.

Energy Independence

The 1973 OPEC Oil Embargo

For the last 50 years, we have had an unhealthy dependence for oil on the Middle East. Sometimes our interests have aligned, other times not. Countries act from their own interests.

In 1973, OPEC – the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – had simply decided to not sell us oil, and we had a huge dependency on them *. I was trying to find the percentage and could not readily find it, although 40%  seems to come to mind.

Begging the Question

By lex, on February 20th, 2011

Boston University professor Andrew Bacevich is no fan of the America’s decadal War on Terror. And the man has his reasons, personal and professional. But the author of “Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War,” and “The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism,” may be pressing his point too firmly in his latest Op-Ed ** in the LA Times, concerning the “Arab spring”: