Impotence in the Summer of Love, 2007

“When we catch you playing a nonconstructive role, there will be a price to pay.”–President Bush, to Iran, in a news conference last Thursday. “Your name’s Lebowski, Lebowski…You’re not dealing with morons here.”–dim thug;“It’s a complicated case, Maude. Lotta ins. Lotta outs. And a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands…”–The Dude,Continue reading “Impotence in the Summer of Love, 2007”

The Ever-Expanding Expansionist Compact

One reason why a democracy cannot survive empire, and why empires are increasingly short-lived things, is that citizens of conquered and occupied nations, and cultures, half a world away, thereby become people to whom the leadership of the imperial power is answerable, in one way or another: “The Americans know everything, they can do everything,Continue reading “The Ever-Expanding Expansionist Compact”

The Deep Pockets of Denial

Owing to the difficulties with America, no progress has been made in developing the oil…If we remain, shall we not be answerable for defending their frontier? How are we to do this if the Turk comes in?–Winston Churchill, writing to David Lloyd George, September 1922 When we have made Mesopotamia a model state there isContinue reading “The Deep Pockets of Denial”