America, Israel and Russia

America, Israel and Russia by Erin Solaro Genuine decadence is not the refusal to meet previous, and often putative, standards of excellence, but the refusal to do the things necessary to survive. By that standard, Russia is not decadent, it is enormously serious about its survival, at times far too much so in the past, [...]

The Russia Speech The President Should Have Given

Posting this two weeks after the speech, in an era of instant news, would seem a little OBE, except for articles like John Vinocur’s Central and Eastern European Countries Issue Rare Warning for U.S. on Russian Policy in today’s New York Times.  Mr. Vinocur, who really ought to know better, seems unaware that all the [...]

Who Needs the KGB When We Do It To Ourselves?

I finished my novel on 30 June 2009:  stopped making changes, diddling, froze the text.  I had wanted a complete draft by 30 June; instead, I had a completed book.  So my husband and I then went into town:  some bourbon for him, some rosé for me, some meat and veggies and fruit, including two [...]

On Torture

I’ve been following, at a distance, the “debates” on torture.  Since I’m in a race against time to finish a novel, I’ve pretty much punched out of current events.  My husband, the writer Philip Gold, sends me articles he thinks I should read, such as this one on Russian death squads in Chechnya.  Those who [...]

Vladimir Putin, Neo-Con, Redux

The New York Times has just published an article calling into strong question Georgian claims that it was acting defensively and against Russian and separatist aggression.  Nice work:  I didn’t do so bad, for free, in September in this essay. You do not have to be an apologist for Russia to wonder how the nation’s [...]

Voting, then Buying a Handgun

My husband and I did two things on election day. First, we voted, dropping off our ballots at the country courthouse.  Then we drove up to Kirkland to buy a handgun.  Oh, yeah, we voted for Barack Hussein Obama and Christine Gregoire.  First time in his life he voted straight Democrat, first time he ever [...]

The Political Psychology of National Self-Respect: Vladimir V. Putin, Neo-Con

Vladimir V. Putin:  Neo-Con About a year ago, the Bush administration and the neocon babble-ocracy began touting Vladimir Putin as America’s next Man We Love to Hate.  This is odd, since by nearly all standards, Mr. Putin is the most successful neocon on the planet.  Or perhaps it’s jealousy.  Since taking power in 2000, Mr. [...]