#Libya

Federica Saini Fasanotti: A confederal model for Libya – Brookings Institution

The long-advocated national-level solution of political unity does not, in fact, seem possible. Instead, a confederation of the three regions built on the original disposition of tribes and natural borders could probably assure a deeper stability. Regional governments could better

Posted in International Relations, Noted & Quoted Tagged with:

Frederic C. Hof: The Non-Option of Disengagement from the Middle East – MENASource

The next president, like it or not, will have his or her hands full with the Middle East. The starting point for getting anything right is to reject the proposition that we will always get it wrong; that it is

Posted in International Relations, Noted & Quoted Tagged with: , ,

The Libya Intervention: another worst decision except for all the others

The Libya decision will be revealed, predictably, to have been a very American decision – instrumentalizing military force on behalf of political-economic popular sovereignty (i.e., “freedom”) against a vulnerable tyranny, in cooperation with allies, with “respect for the opinions of mankind.” It entailed risks and real human costs while shifting them from one group to another – as would every other decision. It may even have been the “wrong” decision from other perspectives. If so, that conclusion would not necessarily imply that there was a simply “right” or “better” decision to be made, or that the American president can be asked or expected to give every or any other perspective higher or equal priority.

Posted in Politics, War Tagged with: , , ,

non-ideally realistic is the ideal realism and real idealism etc.

Realistically, a merely more rather than ideally realistic policy may be as much as is really achievable, and for any realist president will remain the ideal.

Posted in International Relations, Politics, War Tagged with: , , , ,

Nuke programs end with a lot of whimpering, not a bang

Qadhafi decided against WMD long before the Iraq war. Osirak was a complete failure. And so on.

Posted in International Relations, War Tagged with: , , , ,

They may tick our loaves

…but they’ll niver tick our

Posted in Miscellany Tagged with: , , ,

Libyan Quagbump?

The British press has been reporting on Libya more extensively than American outlets, which makes sense considering the greater ongoing involvement of the U.K. in the NATO-led operation.  Two articles suggest that we may, but then again may not, soon

Posted in War Tagged with: , ,

My further brave, brave stance on Libya

At Juan Cole’s joint, the good professor details what the Libya No-Fly Zone has accomplished in just a few days.  He concludes: Pundits who want this whole thing to be over with in 7 days are being frankly silly. Those

Posted in War Tagged with: , , , , , ,

My Stand(s) on the Libyan Atrocity

By the light of my tallow candle, as I push hard on the pedals of my bicycle-powered generator, I bravely lash out at the world oil complex and its malign interference in the internal affairs of Libya.  As for my

Posted in War Tagged with: , , ,

For the annals of boundless hackery

Team Obama: Game Theorists: There are days when you wonder why they bother.  In two paragraphs, the New York Times – by helpfully conveying Team Obama’s message exactly as intended – inadvertently demonstrates why the Obama policy is a self-cancelling

Posted in Miscellany Tagged with: , ,