World Issues

Global Thoughts 23 June 2003 A bit more focus on economics this month. Meanwhile, Iraq and Israel-PA are playing themselves out right now and there are some real opportunities, now that the deck of cards has been reshuffled.

June 23, 2003

Hot Spots Israel-Palestine: Have you noticed that every time Israel assassinates someone, it’s always a Leader of Whatever. Evidently, there are no non-generals in the Palestinian army, just as in the Israeli army. Sharon has upped the ante against Hamas

Global Thoughts 11 May 2003 World Issues, Euros and Eyeglass Cleaner for Travel

May 11, 2003

Karen and I walked into a china shop last Sunday to look at patterns. I was in a good mood following a 4 hour lecture/discussion on Middle East policy (yeah, I like that stuff), and wore a rather cherubic countenance

Global Thoughts 14 April 2003 Assessing the State of Affairs at the End of the Iraq War: Lessons Learned & Future Prospects

April 14, 2003

Been a bit busy these past 2 weeks, getting engaged, ready for the holiday vacation, and all that. But never too busy for you and getting out a current edition of Global Thoughts. I didn’t see any sense in providing

Global Thoughts at Year’s End 2002 4 January 2003

January 4, 2003

Welcome to 2003. Predictions made for 2002 were better than usual. I said that Saddam would be gone by now, but you can tell that the Saudis are getting off the fence and even Iraqis are resigned to his coming

How much Freedom should we trade for our Security? Submitted to the Economist Essay Competition August 2002 Posted 1 December 2002

December 1, 2002

SYNOPSIS: Freedom for Security should be viewed more broadly than in terms of an exchange involving civil liberties. In today’s society, the tradeoff of the overarching value of Convenience for Security is the most relevant yardstick involving what we popularly

Global Thoughts – 1 December 2002 Iraq; Israel Elections and Palestinian Affairs; Bush Legacies; World Superpower Watch; Highlights of Trip Journal; Respect vs. Tolerance (with application to Turkey & EEC)

December 1, 2002

Where do I start? I just returned from a dozen country, 30 day journey to talk to people, hear their views, try to get answers to questions and report back to you. Following this visit to Europe and the Middle

Heading into the Israeli Elections…Just 12 Days to Go!

November 10, 2002

I think I am about to clean up here with just 12 days to go. Now the people that wanted to bet me bibi would win are refusing to take bets. As i forecast in my 60 day futures, barak is

Global Thoughts 15 September 2002 Family Weekend in the Country; 9/11 One Year Later; Regional Politics Selected Issues; State of the World at the High Holidays: On Internet Connectivity, Evil, Knowledge and the Ever-Increasing Value of 1:1 Hu

September 15, 2002

Family Thoughts. We recently finished our Family Weekend in the Country Dacha Ritual. That means 16 of us in a 5 bedroom cottage getting through a weekend which was the product of intense negotiation that somehow we will forget within

Global Thoughts – 23 June 2002 Markets, Post 9/11 America and Foreign Policy Shifts, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Israel/Palestine; Child Sacrifice: Biblical Perspective.

June 23, 2002

This week we read that Mexico is in mourning after having lost to the US in World Cup Soccer. They shouldn’t compare this with the loss of Texas – nobody here could care less that we won. The games weren’t

Current Middle East Situational Bulletin – 20 April 2002

April 20, 2002

Take this article to the bathroom because it isn’t short; neither is the situation simple. I know that many people are very upset. I have tried to take this into account but I am still going to call this one