Public Service

Sputnik’ed Response

Oct 4th, 2007 | By | Category: Public Service

Sputnik orbited fifty years ago today–a tremendous accomplishment. But, let’s not mistake the meaning here. The Soviet Union’s launch of the first artificial satellite was both a fantastic technical achievement and a profound threat. If the Soviets could launch a new moon they could also hurl an atomic bomb across the globe. In the context […]



Elusive Competence

Aug 19th, 2007 | By | Category: Public Service

Last night I got around to watching No End in Sight, the interesting if flawed documentary on the unraveling of the Iraq war. The pieces the documentary presents are nothing new: A rush to war, minimal plans for the aftermath, too few troops, no martial law, looting, imperial rule, de-Ba’athification, disbanding of the Iraqi military, […]