Skanderbeg's blog
Posted at 10:42pm on Jul. 2, 2008 Why a Weak Russia Fears Ukraine - And What It All Means (Updated)
By Skanderbeg
I've been non-shy about staking out what seems to be a minority position in these pages - that Russia is not re-emerging as a strong power in the guise of the old Soviet Union, but is in fact a noisy but weak state that can't even enforce its will upon anyone other than tiny, weak, impoverished Moldova. Along those lines, I've cited Russia's disastrous demographic problems, and also its total inability to enforce its will upon what is supposed to be its close fraternal cousin Ukraine.
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Posted at 1:53pm on Jul. 1, 2008 Letter from Tirana - "Forum for Democracy and Ethics"
By Skanderbeg
I'm on the mailing list maintained by these admirable young gents, and their most recent missive came in this morning.
I'll just copy it below, since it speaks for itself and is just too good not to share more widely.
It's also a good reminder that there are plenty of people all around the world - even in Europe (!!) - who "get it" on these things.... even if one of our own major political parties no longer does....
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Posted at 9:18pm on Jun. 19, 2008 Unintended SCOTUS Consequences - "Just Shoot Them"
By Skanderbeg
This is something that's been in the back of my mind since last week's SCOTUS Boudimene (sp.?) decision. Commenting on it was catalyzed by this listed comment over at today's opinionjournal.com from a reader by the name of George Mead:
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Posted at 11:00am on Jun. 19, 2008 "Alternative Energy" - Where's the Cheese?
By Skanderbeg
I was going to make this a comment to Ben's morning missive, but as I thought about it (and the content has been gestating for a couple weeks as I've been otherwise occupied battling deadlines), I thought I'd make it a separate entry.
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Posted at 9:57am on Jun. 13, 2008 Jihadist Darwin Award
By Skanderbeg
Back in April, your humble correspondent had a catch-up lunch with an old business colleague.
By coincidence, he had just returned from Florida, where his son had just completed Navy ordinance disposal training.
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Posted at 3:55pm on Jun. 11, 2008 Today's Cultural Upliftenment - Another Special "For Neil" Edition
By Skanderbeg
Free from the fetid chains of communism, culture continues to flourish in Albania - in new and ever more creative ways.
Now, an Albanian artist has created.... Well, I'll just let you read the start of this....
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Posted at 10:00am on Jun. 4, 2008 June 4th 1942 – Midway, the Forgotten Victory (Republished)
By Skanderbeg
(Your humble correspondent posted an essay on this important but sadly neglected episode in American history last year. Since the anniversary has come around once again, it seems like a good time to republish it, particularly for those who missed it last year. -- Skan)
When early June rolls around each year, June 6th is accorded a great deal of reverence for the well-known events of the Normandy landings of 1944. On the decadal anniversary years, there are major ceremonies and there is extensive news coverage.
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Posted at 10:35am on May 31, 2008 Headline of Day (and Maybe the Year) - "Living in Britain is now more dangerous than the Balkans"
By Skanderbeg
Life is full of surprises. One appeared this morning in the guise of the following headline and story:
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Posted at 10:01pm on May 29, 2008 Needed Evening Diversion - Caption This
By Skanderbeg
Sounds like everyone needs a diversion.
So here it is.
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Posted at 12:35pm on May 29, 2008 Jimmy Carter Threat Level Advisory System
By Skanderbeg
Here's some breaking news that, as far as I can tell, no one here has noticed.
The new Jimmy Carter Threat Level Advisory System has just been released:
(Follow the link to see the whole thing.)
(H/T and major "We are not worthy" bows to Doug Ross!!)
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Posted at 9:49am on May 25, 2008 Today's Cultural Upliftenment - Who Was Skanderbeg?
By Skanderbeg
Who was "Skanderbeg"?
This question comes up in here all the time.
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Posted at 11:03am on May 18, 2008 The Other Vlad Putin - Secret Member of the VRWC?
By Skanderbeg
Vladimir Putin - Authoritarian.
Yep.
We all know that. But fortunately he seems to be a somewhat lazy authoritarian, spending more time at his villa in Riviera-like Sochi than in cold Moscow. And he leads a weak country in demographic collapse. And "mighty" Russia is unable to work its will on any other country, except perhaps tiny, impoverished Moldova (although it looks like Vlad may gearing up to try his luck against Canada - which though larger and less-impoverished than Moldova, is about as weak).
However, there's another side of Vlad.
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Posted at 12:48pm on May 15, 2008 Other Side of the Story - Polar Bears React to Being Declared "Threatened"
By Skanderbeg
While everyone was focused on yesterday's silly announcement that a species that is growing in numbers by leaps and bounds is to be declared "threatened," no one seems to have thought of the obvious question: What do the polar bears themselves actually think?
Despite my tight schedule, I slipped off yesterday for a quick jaunt north to gauge their reaction to the news.
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Posted at 10:47am on May 14, 2008 When Elephants Attack - Can We Hire This Big Fella? (Didactic Diversion) [**UPDATED**]
By Skanderbeg
Your humble correspondent was in South Africa for a few days last week.
Last Friday, this photo was all over the front pages of all the newspapers:
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Posted at 9:46pm on May 13, 2008 The McCain Campaign Called....
By Skanderbeg
The phone rang a little while ago. I'd rather not answer the phone at home in the evening, but since things are globalized and I'm on-call basically 24/7, I had to answer.
It was someone from the McCain campaign.
She started her schpiel, but I politely (but firmly) interrupted with words to the following effect:
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