Category Archives: Foreign Affairs

A collection of essays and commentaries on current events in foreign affairs and American involvement abroad.

ISIS

Posted on September 5, 2014 by ChefMaxwell

America has the attention span of a cat.  We move from issue to issue quickly and tend to view each problem we face as if it were a unique thing, unrelated to other, broader problems. United States was born in … Continue reading →

Posted in Notes For Next Time, The Middle East | Leave a comment

Civilian Casualties

Posted on July 17, 2014 by ChefMaxwell

While many things have happened in the last couple of days, two are of particular interest. First, four young Palestinian boys were accidently killed by Israeli naval gunfire. The Israelis have indicated that the incident was a regrettable accident and … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Notes For Next Time | Leave a comment

Sending “Advisors” into Iraq, Again

Posted on July 14, 2014 by ChefMaxwell

When I was 7 years old I did a very stupid thing. Of course it was neither the first nor the last stupid thing I did, but it informed my decision process from then on. I grew up in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Notes For Next Time, The Middle East | Leave a comment

Middle East and ISIS

Posted on July 12, 2014 by ChefMaxwell

It appears that the Middle East is on the verge of explosion. Iraq is splitting into Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish  factions. Syria is struggling with violence between an insane coalition of competing interests on one side, and the forces of … Continue reading →

Posted in Notes For Next Time, The Middle East | Leave a comment

Iraq, Again

Posted on July 12, 2014 by ChefMaxwell

I supported the original incursion into Iraq. I was suspicious of George Bush’s motives, but the possibility of WMD and the development of a coalition overcame my doubts. I was wrong. It appears to me now that the original effort … Continue reading →

Posted in Notes For Next Time, The Middle East | Leave a comment