Monday, March 11, 2002

New Statesman (U.K.) George W Bush's unlikely bedfellows Monday 11th March 2002 "But Hitchens sees, among the generation whose most active spirits were far leftists, 'a new politics' of engagement emerging ... It is a politics that at least promises to redefine national interest to include the halt of mass murder. The left, instead of dismissing all actions and rhetoric of Bush, Blair and Schroder as those of hypocritical imperialists, should hold these leaders to their words. If, as the left has long believed, genocide, oppression and aggression should be fought, its task is to ensure that politicians who endorse these aims live up to them. "  ... [more] 12:43:01 PM    comment  []

In war, grownups can't play silly games March 10, 2002 BY MARK STEYN SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST "Six months on, it's clear that, in the ops room, the grown-ups are in charge: Bush, Rummy, Condi. The downside, alas, is that on the non-war fronts the Bush presidency has died. The education bill is a joke, and last week's steel tariffs are a disgrace. They've caused particular outrage among the only two allies who matter, Britain and Russia." "But most presidents get to pick their priorities. Bush has no choice in his. If Byrd wants to know the "end game," here's a few signs of how things will look when it's over: *Regime changes in Iraq and Iran. *The liquidation of Saudi Arabia, with the territory partitioned between Jordan and the less unenlightened Gulf emirs. *The dissolution of NATO: America needs to stop overguaranteeing European security. For one thing, it allows EU governments to fritter their revenues on lavish welfare programs that allow young Arab immigrants to sit around plotting terrorism at the taxpayer's expense. *The embrace by the Middle East of the same reforms Turkey embarked on 80 years ago." "In other words, these are early days, and there are plenty of horrors to come. It's war, there's more, get used to it." ... [more] 2002/09/11 12:24:23 PM    comment  []

March 10, 2002 Argentina Pleads for Loans, Latin America Worried "Argentina pleaded for renewed international financial help on Sunday to overcome its deep economic crisis, warning of more social and political upheaval if rescue loans are not forthcoming." "'It is continuity or anarchy. That is the risk we see' ... the depth of the Argentine crisis was such that he fears an outbreak of violence if it is not solved soon." "Argentina will ask international creditors to take a loss when they sit down to renegotiate their share of Argentina's strapping debt ... talks with creditors must wait for an IMF deal." ... [more] 8:28:53 AM    comment  []