They probably don’t know it and wouldn’t acknowledge it anyway, but Ali Khamenei, Binyamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump owe the common god they claim as an exclusive ally the same thing: a little time off.… Read the rest
The writer John Steinbeck called war “a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.” Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz characterised it as “the continuation of politics by other means.” The latest version is the triumph of hubris, ego and ignorance of history and culture.… Read the rest
“You did it to me so I’m going to do it to you” isn’t appropriate behaviour in a schoolyard. In a region trembling on the brink of an all-encompassing war , where cool heads, informed thinking and sensible compromise are vital, it seems to be the best that egotistical leaders driven by ideology and their political survival can provide.… Read the rest
The early 2nd century poet Juvenal coined the phrase “bread and circuses” to describe how Roman emperors distracted their public from governmental shortcomings. The rash and ultimately short-sighted ploy echoes today in the form of crises. The danger is that crises can be lethal if mishandled, a distinct possibility when they are seasoned with cynicism.… Read the rest