… give or take
// The prospect of a US government shutdown in the coming days and weeks is worth noting. But that’s not because the government will actually “shut down” (in fact, almost everything that people think of when it comes to “government” will continue to operate as normal). Rather, it is symbolic, a sign of the times. [...]
// In the following recent conversation between Bill O’Reilly and Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, the former raised the assertion that liberalism is incapable or ineffective at governing. Newsom correctly pointed out that governance is, at least currently, a lost art in the US, irrespective of ideology or political persuasion. The causes of this state [...]
// President Obama, always a good speaker, didn’t disappoint on rhetoric. The tone was upbeat and optimistic on continuing change. Inspiring words and ideas abounded. He spoke of strong values, of unity and the American character. However, in the area of policy, the speech came up short. As a general rule, Obama maintained his MO [...]
// Continued from yesterday’s post… Conclusions and Recommendations American policymakers would be wise to heed the lessons of history. Although Muhammad Zahir Shah reigned over a stable central Afghan state for 40 years, the period was marked by limited progress for the country as a whole, and the central government depended so heavily on the [...]
// Continuing from yesterday’s post… Afghanistan: A Tough Nut to Crack However, there are deeper structural impediments standing in the way of a modern Afghan state. From the rulers of the 18th century to the Taliban in the 1990s, certain characteristics of Afghanistan have continually thwarted the efforts of centralizing forces. Like Europe, whose rivers, mountain [...]
