Published in Washington monthly (link to article) Russia’s aggression stems from its history and political culture, not NATO expansion or the post–Cold War settlement. The months-long succession of rising tensions over Russia’s outsized and prolonged “military exercises” is over. The accompanying negotiations, it is now evident, were a sham. The illusion of a crisis that…
Category: Articles
The Grand Illusion of a US-Russia Alliance against China
It says more about toxic US domestic politics than the realities of international relations The Russian invasion of Ukraine may very well cause the most casualties from armed conflict that Europe has seen since World War II. The first professional casualty of this war, which occurred well before the tanks rolled over the border, was…
Vladimir Putin: the Authentic Leader of the Republican Party
Forget Trump, it was Putin who built the ideological template for the GOP Published in CommonDreams February 20 (link to article) Despite losing the last election by seven million votes, it is conventional wisdom that Donald Trump remains the leader of the Republican Party. Partly this reflects the Republican base. The media also plays its role:…
It’s Time the Pentagon Pulled the Plug on Fox News
Extremist propaganda should not be piped into military bases at taxpayer expense. By: JEN SENKO, MIKE LOFGREN Published in CommonDreams February 10, 2022 Link to article Fox News has pushed anti-vaccine falsehoods and Americans have died as a result. Tucker Carlson has approvingly hosted an Oath Keeper now charged with seditious conspiracy, casting him as a victim. Jesse Watters has…
Put Russia on the State-Sponsored Terrorism List
If Putin moves against Ukraine, putting the great empire on a par with Cuba and Syria will be a huge blow to the nation’s sense of self. It’s a punishment that might work. Published January 25, 2022 in Washington Monthly Russia’s massive troop buildup on Ukraine’s border has produced the worst tensions between Washington and…
The Growing Blight of “Infill” McMansions
Their awful ugliness exemplifies the unbalanced economy that spawned them. Published January 17, 2022 in Washington Monthly Most of us remember the atmosphere of pre-2008 America. One of its signature features was the jerry-built McMansion, usually constructed in isolated developments miles outside cities on hitherto perfectly serviceable farmland, heaving up in eczematous patches that scarred…
Why the Idea of Progress Is Dead in America
The Right’s assault on reason and intelligence has killed the notion that things can improve. Published in CommonDreams Dec 22, 2021 Link to article A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop, at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.—William…