DRAFT National Security in the Years Before Covid, and After Donald
I have this egotistic conception of myself as a writer, offering up my voice to the National Conversation. Which is nutty but whatever. I read these ‘think’ pieces from knowledgeable people, and sometimes they make sense. Sometimes they draw upon a broad slice of reality, and present conclusions that...
The Hunt for Red October and The Art of Modern War
In my head, Red October is still the best Clancy picture, by far. Harrison Ford was too Mr America, and Ben Affleck was too jock. There’s no way around it, Jack Ryan is a Baldwin. The movie was so good it inspired me to read the book, the book...
Useless Hot Takes 101: Israel v Palestine and the virtues of a disproportionate response
Middle Eastern politics are not my strength. I barely have an understanding of the Christianity that’s killing us; I know even less about the Jewish or Muslim fault lines crisscrossing the region. But Israel is a pink elephant in American politics, so the litmus test is about as relevant...