In The New Yorker yesterday, George Packer wrote “Two Minds on Syria.” It covers many of the issues in the current “should we or shouldn’t we” discussions about how to react to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. And at the risk of repeating what others have already said, I have a few things … Continue reading On red lines and war
On August 9 President Obama announced reforms to the US intelligence gathering system, apparently in an effort to reassure an increasingly skeptical public. As I sat rolling my eyes at changes we’ll have no way of verifying, he said, “America is not interested in spying on ordinary people.” My thoughts at the time were something … Continue reading NSA reforms: Obama not believable
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Ted Koppel writes that we have overreacted to terrorism, that we have done to ourselves what the terrorists could never have done. And of course I agree with him. I said the same thing two years ago. Koppel’s commentary apparently was prompted by the closing of US embassies across North Africa … Continue reading Twelve years later and still overreacting to terrorists
Privacy advocates are understandably outraged over yesterday’s revelations of widespread spying on Americans by the Obama administration. Coming on top of last month’s allegations of spying on AP reporters, IRS misdeeds, and Benghazi bungling, it appears more and more as though the wheels have come off the Obama administration. At first it looked as though … Continue reading The wheels have come off the Obama administration
The following is a reprint of “Plan B: Politics trumps science,” published here December 10, 2011. With minor changes, it is as relevant today as it was in 2011. Remember, a US district judge last month ruled the FDA must make Plan B, the “morning after pill,” available over the counter to all girls and … Continue reading Plan B: Politics trumps science — again
I watched last night’s White House correspondents dinner, or at least the part featuring President Obama and Conan O’Brien. Tuned in too late for the rest. My opinion? The president was funny and engaging, and although he probably has a team of writers creating his material, he knows how to deliver it with aplomb. He … Continue reading About that White House correspondents dinner
