Like Sands Through the Hourglass The longer this day wore on with no word that Robert Harward had accepted Donald Trump's once-in-a-lifetime offer to witness a four year-long tire fire firsthand, the more it began to seem like Harward might pass. And, sure enough, a couple of hours ago word broke that Harward had, in … Continue reading Conflict update: February 16 2017
Author: DWD
writer, blogger, lover, fighter
Conflict update: February 15 2017
Meet the New Boss('s Adviser) In a rare flash of lucidity, Donald Trump has reportedly offered his now-vacant National Security Advisor position to Vice Admiral Robert Harward, instead of, say, Steve Bannon, or John Bolton, or Chucky, the doll from those horror movies. It's hard to evaluate Harward for two reasons: one, most military brass … Continue reading Conflict update: February 15 2017
No winners
The biggest problem I find I'm having with trying to follow the Michael Flynn story is that it's hard to distinguish the actual, verifiably crazy parts of the story from the parts that are being overhyped by the press. Because a lot of this story is genuinely ridiculous. A National Security Advisor resigning under a … Continue reading No winners
Conflict update: February 14 2017
Why are you reading this today? Valentine's Day is supposed to be a happy day--or a depressing day, but for reasons that have nothing to do with the shitty state of the world. Well, you're here and my wife and I couldn't find a sitter this evening, so I guess we might as well get … Continue reading Conflict update: February 14 2017
Valentine’s Day is for lovers
In addition to being Valentine's Day, February 14 is also the anniversary of the arrival of Saudi King Abdul Aziz b. Saud aboard the heavy cruiser USS Quincy in 1945, there to meet with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR was returning from the Yalta Conference--technically he was sailing home from Malta, having flown from there … Continue reading Valentine’s Day is for lovers
Sensible Centrism
Rahm Emanuel is a Good Democrat: In the first three weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency, mayors across the country became some of his most vocal opponents and vowed to fight his discriminatory executive orders. But there’s at least one city leader who wants to work closely with the new administration: Democratic Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. … Continue reading Sensible Centrism
Conflict update: February 13 2017
Michael Flynn I had more to say about this story, but it all just got rendered obsolete: https://twitter.com/cnnadam/status/831351011046522880 Earlier this evening Flynn pulled out of a scheduled speech at the National Defense Industrial Association's annual meeting at the last minute, and that was after Politico reported this morning that Donald Trump's son in-law, the constantly-failing-upward … Continue reading Conflict update: February 13 2017
Conflict update: February 12 2017
We're in the middle of a windstorm and I keep losing power, so I'm going to have to call it a night with a lot of stuff still left to cover. I'll be back tomorrow though. The storm blew through and I decided to stay up late to cram everything in here. You're welcome, or … Continue reading Conflict update: February 12 2017
Conflict update: February 9 2017
Just by way of an update, there's a pretty good chance this place will be quiet tomorrow. I'm traveling again and, well, I might just feel like crashing afterwards. That's also why this is posting a few hours earlier than I usually post these updates. #ThanksTrump As the Trump administration decides how to proceed now … Continue reading Conflict update: February 9 2017
Conflict update: February 8 2017
#ThanksTrump Of the many unconscionable things Donald Trump has done in the not-even-three-weeks since he became president, this would be among the most unconscionable: The leaked draft of a presidential memorandum Donald Trump is expected to sign within days suspends a 2010 rule that discouraged American companies from funding conflict and human rights abuses in the … Continue reading Conflict update: February 8 2017
The Foreign Exchanges Companion 