Last Saturday the 2010 Rhodes scholars were announced and a full five Harvard students were among them (along with two Yale students and one Princeton student…but, really, who’s counting?) On the same day, Elliot Gerson, the American secretary of the Rhodes Trust, published an op-ed in the Washington Post, pointing out that more and more … Read more
We have a new batch of web exclusive articles from the HPR: a review of books from Cass Sunstein and Tyler Cowen, a search for our generation’s protest music, a new perspective on European conservatives and the financial crisis, and a historical look at presidents and peace prizes. Take a look!
Iran has backed down from a nuclear deal that would have significantly eased American tension with them. The deal was to send Iranian low-enriched uranium abroad to be enriched up to reactor-grade. While this first seems odd, the crucial point is that currently their uranium is in the form of uranium hexaflouride, a gas that … Read more
The prizefare theory, as enunciated by David Frum, says pacifist manipulation: That Nobel was not a gesture of Obama-worship by left-leaning Norwegians. It was the very opposite: It was a pre-emptive strike against Obama, an attempt to neutralize him. How can a Peace Nobelist strike Iranian nuclear plants? Or wage a protracted war in Afghanistan? … Read more
I wasn’t aware they graded on effort.
The EU has faulted both sides in the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict for violations of international law. Russia, unsurprisingly, broke international law by its invasion of Georgia and its attacks on Georgian civilian infrastructure. Though if that’s against international law, color me confused as to nations are supposed to fight wars and if any of them … Read more
The U.S. government is probing the death of Bill Sparkman, a census worker in rural Kentucky. He was found hanged in the woods with the word “FED” scrawled on his chest. I doubt Glenn Beck means to goad his viewers into violence when he tells them the federal government is trying to destroy American democracy, … Read more
When you’re working to govern an entire nation, you can’t please everyone. Particularly people with highly particular political preferences; they tend to be the most prickly when disappointed (though you’d think they’d get used to it). So it’s a rare joy when a political figure does something that seems eminently sensible and pleasing, and with … Read more
This is the best fodder for late-night comedy I’ve seen since the last time Michael Steele spoke. It is encouraging that most people seem appalled, but some conservatives appear to have a limitless appetite for self-destruction. The next time Republicans accuse liberals of disrespecting the commander-in-chief, expect eyes to roll. And as for Mr. Spontaneous … Read more
So unsurprisingly, the Iranians now have enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb. I say unsurprising because, well, the U.S. has been wringing its hands over it for years now. While apparently the 2007 intelligence assessment that they aren’t actively designing a bomb was accurate, it’s now within their physical capacity to build one if they … Read more