More on the Honduran Crisis

I was able to find the exact text of the plebiscite that Manuel "Mel" Zelaya wanted to proffer to the citizens of Honduras this past Sunday. The text and a photo of the ballot that was to be used can be found here. The odd thing, and a fact that hasn't made it into a lot of press accounts or ...

On the Honduran Coup

The events in Honduras today have been some of the more dramatic in recent Latin American (and especially Central American) politics. The events are certainly of relevance to the democratic evolution of Honduras. Dave Schuler asked that I post a few comments given my academic focus on Latin America. If anyone is interested in the topic, I have written ...

Government can Seize your Laptop at the Border

Via Reuters: U.S. agents can seize travelers' laptops: report U.S. federal agents have been given new powers to seize travelers' laptops and other electronic devices at the border and hold them for unspecified periods the Washington Post reported on Friday. Under recently disclosed Department of Homeland Security policies, such seizures may be carried out without suspicion of wrongdoing, the newspaper said, ...

Anthrax Suspect Commits Suicide

Via the LAT: Apparent suicide in anthrax caseA top government scientist who helped the FBI analyze samples from the 2001 anthrax attacks has died in Maryland from an apparent suicide, just as the Justice Department was about to file criminal charges against him for the attacks, the Los Angeles Times has learned. Bruce E. Ivins, 62, who for the last ...

In Case You Were Wondering…

Via Reuters: World's oldest joke traced back to 1900 BC. And let me tell you, they have unearthed some hy-larious stuff! The shocker of the day: the study "suggests that toilet humor was as popular with the ancients as it is today." The world's oldest recorded joke has been traced back to 1900 BC and suggests that toilet humor was as popular ...

More on the AKP Ruling in Turkey

Yesterday I noted the ruling regarding the banning (or not, as the case was) of the ruling AK party in Turkey. Here's a follow-up which focuses mostly on the funding cut imposed by the court.

AKP Escapes Ban (Barely)

Via the BBC: Turkey's ruling party escapes ban Turkey's Constitutional Court has decided not to ban the ruling AK Party, accused of undermining the country's secular system. But the judges did cut half the AKP's treasury funding for this year. That'll show 'em! (I honestly have no idea which funds or what they are used for--and the story does not elaborate.) In all ...

A Helpful Shopping Tip

If you use the self-check at Walmart, pick the Spanish language option--that way the durn thing won't talk to you and tell you every inane thing it thinks you need to do. Since what one needs to do is pretty easy to understand, the inability to read the screen doesn't matter. So see, for those who get annoyed at "Press ...

Obama’s Veepables

A little run-down at my place.

At Least 53 Dead in Suicide Bombing Attacks in Iraq

Via the BBC: Iraq suicide blasts cause carnageSuicide bombers have killed at least 53 people and wounded about 240 in attacks on crowds in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk. Three blasts in Baghdad killed at least 28 Shia Muslim pilgrims heading for the city's Kadhimiya shrine. [...] In Kirkuk, a suicide bomber targeted a crowd of Kurdish ...

Somehow, I am not Surprised

Via the BBC: China rights 'worsen with Games'

Back to Batman Foreign Policy

Two things to follow up on my post on The Dark Knight and foreign/security policy. First, in thinking more about the movie, I will say that there are two scenes/actions by Batman that could be seen to mirror part of the GWoT debate (and I will be vague so as not to spoil anything). There is an interrogation scene and ...

On Being a Citizen of the World

Said an American politician, speaking to an international audience:"I speak today as both a citizen of the United States and of the world. I come with the heartfelt wishes of my people for peace, bearing honest proposals and looking for genuine progress." I mean can you imagine? Didn't this politician know that he was an American? What kind of ...

Comic Book Foreign Policy (or the Batman Theory of Foreign Policy)

Readers may be familiar with the Green Lantern Theory of Geopolitics (short version: the US can do whatever it wants if it just has even willpower). Now, it appears we can add another member of the Justice League to our understanding of foreign policy. On Friday, author Andrew Klavan had a piece in the WSJ comparing Batman ...

Column on the Conventions

I just remembered, I have a column out in today's Press-Register (the Mobile, AL paper) on the party convention process: PoliColumn: The Party Conventions.