Many prominent bloggers on the left side of the blogosphere are meeting this weekend in Las Vegas for the first annual "YearlyKos" convention. There are certainly multiple panels that sound interesting, though I have no idea how meaningful this convention will prove to be. From a social science point of view, it clearly seems like a political blog-related event worth watching.A few hours ago, for example, the convention featured a panel on the...

To say this event is dominating discussion in the MSM and blogosphere would be an understatement. So I'll do my part to pass along some things worth reading:David Ignatius on the potential breathing room afforded by Zarqawi's demise.Defense Tech on the weapons systems and techniques that took Zarqawi out and what it indicates about the mini-evolution of airpower.King Daddy in many ways echoes the senitments here at the Duck.Mohammad-Mahmoud...

My colleague Dan Byman explains why Zarqawi's death probably won't make things better, and may even make them worse (via Robin Varghese of 3 Quarks Daily):Still, the history of killing terrorist and insurgent leaders suggests that we must be cautious before declaring the death of any leader to be decisive. In 1992, Israel killed Abbas al-Musawi, the secretary-general of the Lebanese Hezbollah, to much self-congratulation. Although Musawi was a...

[Updated] Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi has been killed in Iraq by an air strike. Reaction about the impact this will have on the insurgency is noticeably more muted than comments following the capture of Saddam.And the fact that reactions have been measured is comforting since this administration has been anything but when it comes to purported "turning" and "tipping" points in Iraq. [Perhaps I spoke too soon.]My gut feeling is that it probably won't...

Bush today, speaking in Nebraska on immigration:This is a tough debate for America, it really is. It's a tough debate because it's one in which the language can sometimes send the wrong signals about what we're about. People are very emotional about this issue. And my admonition to people who are concerned about the immigration debate is to remember that language can send signals about who we are as a nation. That harsh, ugly rhetoric on the...

Daniel Drezner asks:What is new and essential in international relations?Tyler Cowen worries that after a burst of innovation in the late eighties, economics has gone a bit stale:I see mid-1980s as the end of a great era in economic theorizing. Take game theory, principal-agent theory, and the economics of information, and apply them to everything, for better or worse. This was an exciting, indeed intoxicating, time to learn economics. While...

Within the span of five months in 2004-2005 remakes of two "classic" science-fiction series entered their regular seasons. The first regular episode of the "re-envisioned" Battlestar Galactica aired in October of 2004. The first episode of the new Doctor Who series aired in Britain in March of 2005. Battlestar Galactica has already emerged as perhaps the best science-fiction television series ever made, and probably one of the best television...

Most of the evidence suggests grounds for cautious optimism about the prospects for some sort of deal with Iran. Already, some (admittedly obscure) right-wing bloggers are crying foul over the carrots on the table. Others trumpet Bush's "diplomatic coup." What should we make of all this?First, liberals shouldn't begrudge giving credit to the Bush administration if they're able to negotiate a deal. We should, rather, welcome its embrace of...

Twenty-five years ago today Israeli F-15s and F-16s carried out a preventive air-strike on Iraq's fledgling Osirak nuclear reactor. By all accounts the operation was itself a success, with 14 of 16 bombs striking their target and no Israeli losses. The mission has since been touted as a) an solid example of a preventive strike against a threat that has yet to materialize b) a possible template for US action against Iran's nascent nuclear...

...Indeed. (for more on the flypaper theory, see here, here, and here.)It appears that Somali Islamic Militias have seized the capital, defeating the US-backed coalition of warlords. Curzon at Coming Anarchy has more.Yet another glowing victory in the war on terror and fundamentalism. I thought this President's comparative advantage was his ability to lead us to victory in this global war. I don't know if you are keeping score at home, but at...

I should've written this before Peter introduced himself.I want to welcome the Duck of Minerva's newest member, Dr. Peter Howard. You can read his introductory post below. Peter is the first of what may prove to be a longer list of additions to the collective. Be sure to give him a warm welcome.

The 17 men were mainly of South Asian descent and most were in their teens or early 20's. One of the men was 30 years old and the oldest was 43 years old, police officials said. None of them had any known affiliation with Al Qaeda."They represent the broad strata of our society," Mr. McDonell said. "Some are students, some are employed, some are unemployed.Thus the New York Times story on the Canadian arrests of suspected terrorists reminds us...