I finally got a chance to watch Rachel Boynton's excellent documentary "Our Brand is Crisis", a film I have been meaning to see since it came out sometime in 2006.  This one really set my wheels turning.   I don't have too much to say about the first 2/3rds of the film, as this is the [...]

There is some reason to believe that the coming Obama presidency will be much more hawkish than many people have anticipated.  To step back in time for a moment, let us recall Obama's controversial remarks back in August of 2007 during the heated primary elections.  In regards to Pakistan, then Senator Obama had this to [...]

It is a maxim of history that empire justifies its actions with eloquent and moving rhetoric. From the earliest, most blatantly smash-mouth empires, to the subtle but more invasive American empire of the modern age, appeals have always been made to the public to justify the military and diplomatic adventures of empire.  These appeals take many [...]

 The notion that Americans are entitled to over-consume world energy supplies is merely a novel twist on the 19th century ideal of Manifest Destiny. While 19th century political, economic, and military might was brought to bear on America's territorial expansion, in its new form this ideal is expressed by exporting American culture and [...]