The 1976 movie All the President’s Men popularized the phrase “Follow the money.” I’ve never actually seen the film. However, if one does follow the money—meaning determines who benefits from a situation—everything becomes clear. Latin: Cui bono? Who stands to gain? Always ask yourself that. Follow the propaganda Before I continue, I have to say…
Rigidity is the reason that the west is in so much trouble
July 25, 2016
I’ll admit that I’m hostile to tradition. This is a deficit on my part. There’s nothing wrong with tradition itself. However, it too often becomes rigidity, which is the bane of western civilization. Implacable rigidity I had a surreal exchange on Twitter that exemplifies the rigidity that cripples westerners. A man wants the US military…
Stolen dreams is why I write about the Middle East
July 24, 2016
Authoritarianism results in stolen dreams. Recently tens of thousands of Middle Easterners began reading my blog. A few days ago I saw a video that profoundly moved me. It made me finally realize why I write so much about the Middle East. Stolen for fun I’ve had a terrible life. There’s no need to go…
Doomsday deferred at almost the last minute
June 30, 2016
“Doomsday Deferred” is brilliant short story from 1949. Author Will F. Jenkins (real name Murray Leinster) writes of a butterfly collector who goes to Brazil to find an especially rare specimen. When a peasant hands over thousands of cocoons and says “his friends” found them, the collector becomes suspicious. It turns out that the Brazilian…
Rules of engagement must be changed to defeat terrorism
June 28, 2016
Terrorists attacked Istanbul Attatürk Airport today, using assault rifles and suicide bombs to kill at least thirty-six people. Dozens more are wounded. A troubling video emerged: Despite the decades of violence, it seems that too many security forces still don’t react efficiently. The world must adopt new rules of engagement that allow security forces to…
Words mean nothing to me. Only actions count
June 21, 2016
At some point in my lifetime, words became the only thing that people care about. What he or she does is not relevant. Words are now more evil than murder. She’s talking about the Brussels suicide bombings of March 22, 2016. Of course this is utterly moronic. Would a Muslim rather read “#StopIslam” or die…