2007 archive

How bad is it?

 If you’re wondering what Prince George has wrought in the hinterland, far from his royal throne, read the following guest editorial that appeared in our local paper last Saturday.  It was written by a federal government employee, the current superintendent…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/05/17/how-bad-is-it/

Pistachios and other nuts

 July 12, 2010 update:  This Haaretz article, titled “On one thing they agree: ‘Allahu akhbar’,” was the beginning of a years-long email conversation with Janna.   Sometimes heated but always interesting… http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/on-one-thing-they-agree-allahu-akhbar-1.219670 or http://bit.ly/9UfSj6 or http://tinyurl.com/3ayjus7 The article was about the…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/05/05/pistachios-and-other-nuts/

Mercenaries?

 Dear Mr. Spencer: I am tardy in responding to your interesting comments about the historical role of Gurkha units in the British Indian Army. In referring to the Gurkha as “mercenaries”, I most assuredly did not intend to impugn their…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/05/04/750/

Barbarians at the gate?

 According to today’s Washington Post, Baghdad’s Shiites are increasingly using explosively formed projectiles, averaging the size of a coffee can.  “The growing use of the projectiles is a major concern for American commanders because the weapons are powerful enough to…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/05/04/barbarians-at-the-gate/

Reflections from Palestine

 Ed is the son of medical missionaries to Yemen and Gaza during the 50s, 60s, and 70s (I think).  He went to school in Alexandria, then back here in the USA, and finally at the American International School near Tel…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/05/01/reflections-from-palestine/

Woolsey disgraces himself again

 Dear Friends: Former CIA Director James Woolsey gave a talk at Princeton University last week.  I decided not to attend, fearing that I might be unable to restrain myself from causing an ugly scene.  But I am extremely pleased and…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/04/30/woolsey-disgraces-himself-again/

War games

 Fisk on the death of journalism: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-we-are-now-in-the-firing-line-sadly-446522.html or http://bit.ly/bnqdXg or http://tinyurl.com/38h6k57 And here’s one on how surgingly swell things are for the British in Basra: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/serving-british-soldier-exposes-horror-of-war-in-crazy-basra-446395.html or http://bit.ly/bA4W72 or http://tinyurl.com/32duxzw  And, if you can find it, the farewell telegram from…  [more]

Permanent link to this article: https://levantium.com/2007/04/28/war-games/