When I talk to young people I tell them if by the time they are forty years old when they look in the mirror if they don’t see their best teacher they did something wrong. I’m not going to sell math short and I agree with the emphasis put on STEM but reading is far and away the most important academic skill. Basically, if you can read you can teach yourself almost anything. Continue reading Last Minute Gift? Give Knowledge
Tag Archives: diplomacy
America A.T. – Part Two
The following is the second installment in a series of undetermined duration and frequency about life in America after Trump (A.T.).
With history as a guide and hoping for a little good fortune America will survive Donald Trump. We have survived other bad presidents before, although perhaps none as bad as the present occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Today I’d like to concentrate on two major areas within international relations that will need immediate attention upon Trump’s exit. Continue reading America A.T. – Part Two
Making Putin Smile
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make Russia a world power again. Aside from its nuclear arsenal it is way too small by most other measures to attain such a status anywhere in his lifetime by overtaking other countries unless those other countries are significantly weakened. Nuclear war means mutually assured destruction (MAD) or something so close to it as to be unacceptable to any rational nation state. While Putin may be evil, he is rational. Putin never seems to smile. (Laughing at people is not smiling.) Let’s juxtapose those facts. Continue reading Making Putin Smile
SPECIAL NOTICE – RECOMMENED READING ADDITION
I have just added War On Peace by Ronan Farrow to the Recommended Reading List. This work by the very young and brilliant Pulitzer Prize winner give a deep dive into American diplomacy and the poor state of the State Department. Farrow is willing to assign fault to friend and foe alike.
Nothing Yet And No Promises
If all goes according to plan President Trump will be meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jung-un sometime next month in a location yet to be announced and I assume determined. The purpose of the meeting is to reduce the threat of a nuclear armed North Korea. Some on the right are already claiming victory and portraying Trump as a great statesman and negotiator. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s explore. Continue reading Nothing Yet And No Promises