Oxblog's David Adesnik and Michael McFaul just published an article (PDF) in the Washington Quaterly entitled "Engaging Autocratic Allies to Promote Democracy." They discuss how, during the 1980s, US influence facilitated democratic transitions in the Philippines, South Korea, and Chile.Its an evenhanded and thoughtful piece.But I can't read it without thinking that their examples of how American diplomatic pressure, triangulation, and prudence...

That is, if we were both in the eighth grade. When it comes to manipulating network data? Not so much.You Passed 8th Grade MathCongratulations, you got 10/10 correct!Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?Filed as: geekery

So, when the Iraqis get out and vote, write a constitution, and form a functioning government it is proof that the Bush strategy is working--but if sectarian violence erupts and civil-war looms it is also proof that the Bush strategy is working. Karl Popper is turning over in his grave...Filed as: Iraq

Yesterdays Washington Post ran a guest column by Ron Asmus in which he lays out an argument for using NATO to contain Iran if it develops nuclear weapons. The plan calls for bringing Israel formally within NATO as a way of making the implicit defensive commitments the West shares with Israel more formal and therefore more credible.The column is less than impressive. The greatest problem with the piece is that Asmus manages to go the entire...

It appears as if the Horowitz crowd is conducting an on-line straw poll to identify the "worst" of the 101 most dangerous professors in America.So far, the results are not encouraging for the IR competitors: Professor School VotesMichael Bérubé Penn State University 150931[skip dozens of names]Ali al-Mazrui SUNY,Binghamton 79[skip another dozen names or so]Matthew Evangelista Cornell University 19Richard Falk Princeton University 16Lisa...

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair told the BBC he thought that his government had "won the argument" about its identity card plan. The House of Lords voted overwhelmingly in late January to make any plan voluntary, but the House of Commons voted last week to compel people applying for passports to obtain the new biometric cards.Despite Blair's proclamation of victory, it is clear that his government continues to encounter opposition. While...

Okay, so now President Bush wasn't properly notified about the pending sale of shipping operations at major US ports to a firm from the UAE. It seems that the President is always willing to tout his accomplishments and leadership when things go well, but when they don't he simply wasn't aware (read: some lower-level bureaucrats undercut his authority and I will now throw them under the bus). Even if we believe the White House spin I don't think...

If there remained any doubt about just how scrumtralescent mothers are I think this story should erase it:Bear crashes hockey game, mom saves kidsEspn.comFiled as: Moms

Mark over at Zenpundit draws attention to an interesting post which discusses the contents of captured al Qaida documents revealing that they provide members with a substantial benefits package. It would appear that, like most other things in life, idealist zeal must always be balanced with practical concerns.Filed as: Al Qaida

We haven't had cable for over a year. I get my news almost exclusively from my.yahoo subscriptions to wire reports; most of these concern regions outside of the United States.I notice, however, that Rodger posted earlier on Horowitz's blacklist. I've read some of Michael Berubé's ongoing mockery of Horowtiz. Of the man himself, I once wrote::My take on David Horowitz has been pretty consistent throughout the years: he may have changed his...

Holy smokes!Via the comment thread attached to Rob's brilliant rejoinder to my "Second Civil War" challenge I find: a little corner of history-geek heaven. Thanks D! Go. Now. Read. Bask in alternative history goodness.Filed as: alternative history

Marxist turned right-winger David Horowitz's latest book is The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America (Regnery Publishing Inc.). I'm not going to link to that book, but I will refer readers to a complete list of the professors, unadorned with Horowitz's text, that was posted on the lbo-talk listserv (that's Left Business Observer).I tip my hat (or duck bill, whatever seems appropriate) to Chris at Explananda), for noting that...