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[Jan 31] From Great Britain, thanks to a church-run hospice, one disabled man was granted his dying wish: to lose his virginity; the doctor-patient relationship is built on trust. But for thousands of women it can turn into one of abuse. Now the government is to take action to end their misery; and a monster of desire at the heart of a nation: A review of London in the 19th Century (and more). From Canada, one thing you can count on: If Michael Ignatieff ever does reconcile himself to the role of politician, he had better take another look at Marshall McLuhan. From The Walrus, an article on Stephen Harper and the Theo-cons: The rising clout of Canada’s religious right; an essay on Multiculturalism: A twentieth-century dream becomes a twenty-first-century conundrum; a review of books on climate change vs. civilization; and pets are family, but chickens are food products? A Quebec vet examines our two-faced relationship with animals. The first chapter from Designs on Nature: Science and Democracy in Europe and the United States. In the aftermath of terrorist attacks, United States embassies around the world have been turned into fortresses, while Sweden is setting up a virtual embassy in the online community Second Life in the hope of increasing its profile with young people around the world. From The Chicago Tribune, an atomic threat made in America: How the U.S. spread bomb-grade fuel worldwide — and failed to get it back; and the search for a magic fuel: Former Cold War rivals face scientific riddle in race to spare world from nuclear peril; the Energy Department is exaggerating its progress in securing tons of nuclear-weapons fuel spread across the globe; and here's a tour inside a Russian reactor. From Foreign Policy, a look at the candidates who are most likely to fill Vladimir Putin’s shoes. Great dictators: A review of The Cambridge History of Russia. Kremlin, Inc.: Why are Putin’s opponents dying? From Der Spiegel, an interview with Abdallah Frangi, the highest-ranking Fatah official in Gaza on an end to the violence, the responsibility of Hamas and the role of Saudi Arabia. Yale's Beth Osborne Daponte on counting Iraqi casualties. Military recruiters are desperate to fill the ranks. But just how desperate? Radar sends in the clowns. Cheerleaders. Soldiers. Booze. Sex: A National Guard recruiting mission gone awry shakes a small South Carolina town to its core. Bush is not above the law: Is the president guilty of committing a felony by continuously reauthorizing the warrantless eavesdropping program for the past five years? And if so, what action must be taken? And impeachment by the people: Howard Zinn on why a national grassroots campaign is needed to impeach Bush and Cheney [Jan 30] From Open Democracy, what are the real trends of global economic growth, and how widely are the benefits of global trade shared? A close look at the evidence casts doubt on conventional optimism. Marx is being proved right: It's becoming increasingly apparent that globalisation is laying bare the contradictions of capitalism. Dani Rodrik, a Harvard trade economist, has built a reputation for favoring eclectic solutions that mix government and the private sector in pragmatic ways. Independence isn't always beautiful: With old empires crumbled and a more globalized world, autonomy may be tempting but isn't always the best choice for a nation. A review of Economic Growth in Botswana in the 1980s: A Model for Sub-Saharan Africa. More on Tip & Run: The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa. An article on Africa's development in 2007: 10 major challenges. An interview with Kenneth Kaunda, president of Zambia from 1964 to 1991 on empire, nationalism and globalization. A review of Anatomy of South Africa: Who Holds the Power? From Der Spiegel, the trek is a journey of desperation. And one of the most difficult parts is the long haul across the Sahara Desert. Hundreds set out across the endless sand in pick-ups -- but many never make it. From Sign and Sight, freedom cannot be decreed: French philosopher Pascal Bruckner accused Ian Buruma of propogating a form of multiculturalism that amounts to legal apartheid. Here, the Dutch journalist and historian defends his position. From Dissent, a symposium on Iran and the West, with contributions from Shlomo Avineri, Anne-Marie Slaughter and others; and Fred Halliday on The Jihadism of Fools. From Exile, a lot of office boys like to talk about "old school." I'll tell you who was old school: Saddam. Strategic Errors of Monumental Proportions: Lt. Gen. William E. Odom (Ret.) on the lessons for Iraq from Vietnam, El Salvador and the Middle East. General David Petraeus rewrote the book on counterinsurgency. But will he have the troops -- and the time -- to complete the mission he's spent his career preparing for? Fareed Zakaria on a preview of a post-US world: The ball is in everybody's court, which means it's in nobody's court. This free ride can't last. The global system is not self-managing. Is the war on terror a clash of civilizations or just a phase in democratic development? From HNN, is Bush a revolutionary? Lee P. Ruddin investigates. The Loneliest President: What’s going on in George Bush’s mind? A team of historians, Oval Office veterans, and psychotherapists tries to figure out whether Bush is depressed or delusional. And from National Journal, a look at the Bush administration's biggest hits and flops that have not received much attention [Jan 29] From The Kettering Foundation, the introduction to Collective Decision Making Around the World, and the first chapter from When Citizens Deliberate: Russian and American Citizens Consider Their Relationship. Rank prejudice and global economics determine who is allowed to enter the West. Border officials who rely on 'instinct' or 'intuition' are only really testing for race and class. 2006 was a turbulent year in world politics, with military coups in Thailand and Fiji, an entrenched insurgency in Afghanistan, and worsening sectarian violence in Iraq. Foreign Policy takes a look at the regimes that may collapse next; and an interview with Ali Ansari on why Iran wants a stable Iraq. Whose Iran? President Ahmadinejad may not be all that popular. And the tension between theocracy and democracy may be reaching a crisis. It Has Unraveled So Quickly: Baghdad fell in 2003 and we are still trying to pick it back up. But Iraq is a different country now (and a map on four strategies for saving Baghdad). A review of Frontline Pakistan: The Struggle with Militant Islam. The assassination of editor Hrant Dink set off the largest peaceful demonstration in modern Turkish history. Can last week's symbolic events lead to reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia? From The Hindu, a review of Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, his People and an Empire. In Good Faith : Here's an Indian view of secularism. Americans have a love affair with India, seduced by a colorful culture, one of the world’s great cuisines, and the sense that these two great democracies are a lot alike. In reality, however, the two countries have very little in common, and a lot that could pull them apart. From The Nation, the way down South: The South is more purple than red, and Democrats don't need to sell their souls to win it back. How Dems can use California to win in '08: A longer, more nationalized primary schedule would forces candidates to have broader appeal and yield a more electable ticket. From The Weekly Standard, meet Mike Huckabee. What are odds that any of the Democratic presidential candidates can do in 2008 what a Georgia peanut farmer did in 1976? Diversity draws new donors: A look at how the Democratic presidential field attracts newcomers to fund raising. Senator Barack Obama has the sort of voice that political consultants dream of: It's authoritative but comforting, rich and resonant and wise--the sound of cigarettes. Secrets of Obama family unlocked: "You know, Ann [Dunham] was really, really white". Repeal the 22nd Amendment: Bring on Bush v. Clinton! (The other Clinton). And Bush, Clinton, Bush--Clinton? It sounds like the War of the Roses [Weekend]  From Guinea, blood and diamonds: One of Africa's worst-run countries faces violent change. From Nigeria, Gbemisola Olujobi takes stock of the changing face of her country’s most prominent economic export after oil: e-mail scams. Truth, Lies, and Accountability: A review essay on the search of justice for East Timor. From ZNet, is independence a viable option for Jammu & Kashmir? From New Statesman, a review of The Writing on the Wall: China and the west in the 21st century by Will Hutton, and a review of Irish Freedom: the story of nationalism in Ireland. A multi-billion dollar natural-gas project in Peru’s Camisea rainforest has been plagued by frequent, environmentally damaging pipeline breaches. An investigation found ample evidence of subpar work and a government cover-up. One NATO is not enough: What we need are more permanent regional security and defense organizations, supported by major powers. At Ease, Mr. President: The president is not the commander in chief of civilians. Dick Cheney vs. Reality: The Vice-President is the only one still drinking the Kool-Aid. A review of Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time by Senator Chuck Schumer. A review of Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear by Frank Luntz. Kristolizing the (Neoconservative) Moment: Eric Alterman on how the poisonous William Kristol is consistently wrong on Iraq. Why does he remain a media darling? From Comment, here's fifty things to love about life in New York City. The Reliable Princess: Kate Middleton is the perfect addition to the House of Windsor. She's polite, well educated and self-controlled -- and she isn't trying to be the new Princess Diana. And here we go again: Christopher Buckley on a projected timeline of the Prince William and Kate Middleton courtship [Jan 26] From Der Spiegel, an excerpt from Hurray! We're Capitulating!: The prevailing feeling among Muslims is that they are being abused by the West. What should we do about it? We might as well surrender. After all, we're already on our way. Christiania's impending normalization reflects Denmark, which is no longer seen around the world as a bastion of tolerance. Israel on the Potomac: The crisis of the neo-conservative foreign-policy agenda in the US is having complex repercussions on pro-Israeli organisations and voices in Washington--but not all critics are our enemies. An interview with Rashid Khalidi, author of The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood. Slippery slope: Holocaust denial is profoundly wrong. But should it be illegal? A review of Hitler Sites: A City-By-City Guidebook (Austria, Germany, France, United States). Germany's economy has regained its lost competitiveness, but it may come at the expense of Spain, where wages are rising fast. A review of The European Economy Since 1945: Co-ordinated Capitalism and Beyond. Radical in name only: The Serbs vote for Europe, but not yet for Kosovo. The safety of Russia's nuclear arsenal was called into question yesterday after Georgia said it had arrested a man trying to sell weapons-grade uranium hidden under his jacket. The International Criminal Court is proving more robust than expected; even sceptical America is softening its line. Kingdoms of this world, and otherwise: The rich, the poor and their advocates, lay and clerical, gather in different places to ponder the fate of the earth. Bush's war on women: To further its anti-abortion crusade, the US denies aid to any NGO that offers safe terminations to the world's poorest women. From Counterpunch, Patrick Cockburn on what's really going on in Baghdad. The Fight We're In: What's the best way for Democrats to force Bush to end the war? Elizabeth Holtzman argues that from the Iraq War to Katrina and warrantless spying, the case for removing Bush from office is overwhelming, but Sanford Levinson says the Constitution's impeachment clause works only for criminals, not the grossly incompetent. Run, Al, Run: The ideal candidate for the Democrats may be the man who won the popular vote in 2000 -- and who opposed the war in Iraq from the very start. And Michelle Cottle on how Hillary Clinton prepared for everything--except Barack Obama [Jan 25] From Germany, vanishing moggies and the sight of sinister vans with darkened windows have sparked rumors of a cat-snatching mafia stalking Berlin. From Great Britain, Julian Baggini on why he doesn't believe most white Britons are racists, even though he heard racist language almost everywhere he went. From Spiked, a review of Big Babies Or: Why Can’t We Just Grow Up? by Michael Bywater. (and more). Why Britain needs a "compassionate conservative": An interview with David Cameron. The persistence of the faithful: Christianity has a track record of opposing progress, so it should absolutely not be referenced in the European constitution. A review of Values in a Time of Upheaval by Pope Benedict XVI. Enlightenment fundamentalism or racism of the anti-racists? Pascal Bruckner defends Ayaan Hirsi Ali against Ian Buruma and Timothy Garton Ash, condemning their idea of multiculturalism for chaining people to their roots. The new mass migration: Africa's poor are fleeing desperation for a life of hope in Europe. Though rarely welcome, neither laws nor walls can stop them from making the dangerous journey. And thousands die each year. From AllAfrica, an article on the political theory of potholes.  Deepak Lal on why globalising capitalism is hated. From Transitions, nothing succeeds like autocracy: Free choice and the prospect of major change are not likely to mar Russia's transition of power when Vladimir Putin steps down next year. A review of Beyond Liberal Democracy: Political Thinking for an East Asian Context. A review of Zheng He: China and the oceans in the early Ming dynasty 1404–1433. From PS: Political Science & Politics, a symposium on the 2006 Mexican election and its aftermath. From Der Spiegel, an interview with Felipe Caldéron, President of Mexico. From Glänta, arranging an interview with Luis Echeverría, president of Mexico from 1970 to 1976, leads the Alejandro Cervantes-Carson to reflect on the relationship between political crime and bureaucracy. Lies, damned lies and statistics: A look at how Canadian newspapers employ some questionable numbers in support of their pet causes. And a review of Becoming a Citizen: Incorporating Immigrants and Refugees in the United States and Canada [Jan 24] From Laos, the ragtag Hmong guerrillas are one of many small groups estimated to number between 2,000 and 12,000 still hiding in the mountains. Form Cambodia, search on for "feral man" as mystery deepens over woman lost in jungle for 19 years. From Pakistan, Ishtiaq Ahmed on print capitalism and political progress; and a look at why you can’t bake an Islamic state. From across the shores: The Indian diaspora constitutes a significant economic, social and cultural force. What are their feelings for this country? A review of The Writing on the Wall: China and the West in the 21st Century. Is Japan a cultural looter? Italian authorities investigate Roman antiquities in Japanese museums, just as Japan launches a global cultural offensive. A review of Kickboxing Geishas. Sex advice, rock star wisdom and prisoner song contests are among the stranger offerings in the quirky world of Russian talk radio. A review of Blowing Up Russia: The Secret Plot to Bring Back KGB Terror by Alexander Litvinenko and Yuri Felshtinsky. Clay Risen on Germany's bold new plan to reinvent everything. A review of The Origins of Sectarianism in Early Modern Ireland. The fight for supremacy between two aircraft-making giants: A review of Boeing Versus Airbus by John Newhouse. Reworking the A-List: Those invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, reflect this year’s theme of a shift in power. From Human Events, an interview with John Bolton on the UN. A review of The Best of Intentions: Kofi Annan and the UN in the Era of American World Power by James Traub and The Parliament of Man by Paul Kennedy. Richard Haass on Ban Ki-moon and the not so United Nations. And from Foreign Policy, an interview with Jill Youse on The International Breast Milk Project [Jan 23] From Prospect, a cover story by Francis Fukuyama on identity and migration; and Timothy Garton Ash on Europe's true stories: The EU urgently needs to give a new account of itself. How about a true and self-critical story woven around six goals? (and check out the new Prospect blog). Form Der Spiegel, the EU has long suffered from a negative public image: An interview with Margot Wallström, European Commissioner for Communications; and damned lies and statistics: Is the Vatican a rogue state? The top crime neighborhood in the world isn't in Sao Paulo or Lagos. It's not the Bronx in New York, or even Wedding in Berlin. It's the small city ruled by Pope Benedict XVI. A review of Design for a New Europe. A review of Uncouth Nation: Why Europe Dislikes America. From Der Spiegel, an interview with Condoleeza Rice: "We feel we have a responsibility to the world"; and an interview with David Frum: "The Bush administration is caught half-way across a bridge". Fareed Zakaria on the limits of democracy: Has Bush soured the world on democracy? From TNR, here's a tour through the flaming streets of Beirut. A review of One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse. Peter Beinart on obsessing about Iran. From The Globalist, comparisons have inevitably emerged between Iraq and Vietnam. Yet, there are other parallels that can be drawn: Ten major parallels between the US war in Iraq and the Athenian campaign against Sicily in 415 BC (and part 2). How Vietnam really ended: Events abroad—not domestic anti-war activism—brought the war to an end. Americans are rummaging through the past for lessons to help us in Iraq. There's just one problem: The two unsuccessful wars we've fought since World War II don't teach the same lesson. A review of The Moral Rhetoric of American Presidents. He still doesn't understand the war: Bush whiffs on Iraq again during the State of the Union. Harold Meyerson on President Bush as our delusional hedgehog. Was the Iraq Study Group report really a flop? Robert Kaplan wants to know. A review of Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of US Troops and Their Families and What Was Asked of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It. And love the warrior, hate the war: Why progressives have more in common with the military than they think [Jan 22] American politics: From The Atlantic Monthly, take two: How Hillary Clinton turned herself into the consummate Washington player. EJ Dionne on how Obama vs. Clinton shapes up. A look at how candidates face a new test: Winning netroots primary. Shushing the Baby Boomers: We could pass the torch to a new generation, as John F. Kennedy put it. Or are passion’s fires best left burning? A look at The Dream Tickets for the 2008 election. An article on the politics of beauty: Looks can win votes—but being too pretty can lose them. Jacob Weisberg on Republicans and the Bush dilemma. The Cause Bush Did Justice To: President Bush gave conservatives, if nothing else, the Supreme Court they wanted. Archives of Spin: If we give in to the worst impulses of presidents and their supporters, presidential libraries risk becoming temples of political propaganda; and why Southern Methodist University should accept the George W. Bush presidential library. Cheney's Enigmatic Influence: How does the most important but elusive presidential adviser in modern history use his power behind the scenes? Lies are hard to prove: Proving perjury, the central charge against I. Lewis Libby, can be an uphill fight. Hard cases: A look at what’s ultimately behind the Libby trial. From TNR, what Dixie has done to American politics: Nicholas Lemann reviews Here's Where I Stand: A Memoir by Jesse Helms; Herding Cats: A Life in Politics by Trent Lott; Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South by Thomas F. Schaller; and There Goes My Everything: White Southerners in the Age of Civil Rights, 1945 - 1975 by Jason Sokol. Eric Foner reviews The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery. How the rise of identity politics was shaped by an area called Edendale: A review of Bohemian Los Angeles: and the Making of Modern Politics. From The Beast, a look at the 50 Most Loathsome People in America, 2006. A review of The Averaged American: Surveys, Citizens, and the Making of a Mass Public by Sarah E. Igo. The feeling many Americans have today is that, all but literally, we are being driven out of our beloved country. A review of Going Postal: Rage, Murder and Rebellion in America by Mark Ames. Alan Wolfe reviews The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11 by Dinesh D'Souza (an excerpt and an interview from Salon). Christopher Hitchens reviews America Alone by Mark Steyn. And a review of A Power Governments Cannot Suppress by Howard Zinn [Weekend] From Indonesia, due, in part, to rampant corruption and governmental indifference, both natural and man-made disasters claim far more lives than necessary — mostly among the nation's poorest citizens. From Mali, an article on the political roots of one of Africa's liveliest music festivals. From Bolivia, a look at how Evo Morales could lead his country to civil war. From Nicaragua, the kinder, gentler Daniel Ortega: A deeply flawed and complex leader now has a second chance to save his country. From Al-Ahram, the recent histories of Latin America and the Arab world share many features. But now their paths are diverging. It's the little things that make an occupation: Those seemingly minor inconveniences that make life hellish in Palestine. The clock may be ticking on Iran's fiery president: Pressure from the U.S. and economic isolation may be eroding Ahmadinejad's authority in his own country. The price of belonging: AC Grayling on why responsible nations must demand that China raises standards on human rights, labour practices and environmental protection. A review of Shenzhen: a travelogue from China, China Candid: the people on the People's Republic and In China's Shadow: the crisis of American entrepreneurship. A review of In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India. A World Bank report shows migrants helping to change the demography and economies of eastern Europe and Central Asia. An article on Central Asia’s other Turkmenbashis. Stalin, Franco, Tito, Mao: all were mostly alike in their means and methods. How they passed from the scene, however, was often very different, and these differences can shape societies for years and decades to come [Jan 19] From Canada, some of my best friends are Quebecers: Is Quebec more racist than other provinces, or just more willing to confront its prejudices? Nationalism is not nationality: What happened to Greater Albania? Europe's huddled masses: Millions of Europeans are on the move. Does it matter? From Sign and Sight, Writer Herta Müller on the tenacity of Romania's corrupt secret service. Sugar plum fairy v the forces of darkness: One of the strangest things about political activists is that they so rarely understand freedom, the very thing they think they are fighting for. A review of The Union: England, Scotland and the Treaty of 1707. Scotland's parliament voted to abolish itself in on 16 January 1707. In 1999, devolution restored a measure of self-government. Now, Scots are contemplating independence once more. The historian and Scottish National Party candidate Christopher Harvie explains why. Sex, politics and idealists: Politics is not just for nerds, nor is it a cynical hunt for power. That is the message of a new BBC drama that is trying to glamorise the world of Westminster. From The Economist, executives have enjoyed an astonishing pay bonanza. Edward Carr explains why most of them deserved it; and the great unbundling: Does economics need a new theory of offshoring? ; rich man, poor man: A poisonous mix of inequality and sluggish wages threatens globalisation; in the shadow of prosperity: Hard truths about helping the losers from globalisation. Is globalization on its way out? A review of Walden Bello's The Capitalist Conjuncture: over accumulation, financial crises, and the retreat of globalisation. Michel Rocard on ethical capitalism, a fragile principle. An article on why sustained global growth depends on a better safety net for the middle class. The rich get richer, and the poor get... Alan Reynolds. A review of Out of the Pits: Traders and Technology From Chicago to London. A review of The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years’ War Over the American Dollar. The introduction to Innovation and Its Discontents: How Our Broken Patent System is Endangering Innovation and Progress, and What to Do About It. And the Unwilling Americans: Daniel Gross on more jobs the native-born won't do [Jan 18] From Macedonia, the government pushes a plan to bring religion into the schools, while opponents ask some lonely questions. From Bangladesh, the country is slipping into chaos and could be Islamic extremists' next target. The introduction to Schooling Islam: Modern Muslim Education. From Economic and Political Weekly, secularism without secularisation: What explains the failure of secularism in the US and India? Why have secular constitutions proved to be incapable of preventing the growing "religionisation" of the state and the public sphere? From Der Spiegel, on this increasingly God-fearing globe, only Western Europe looks like the last bastion of secularism - or are the faithful here too returning to the fold? From LRB, Perry Anderson on Russia’s managed democracy, and Norman Dombey on Iran and the Bomb. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is moving the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock from seven to five minutes to midnight. From Israel Insider, Benny Morris on why The Second Holocaust is looming. From American Diplomacy, and article on assessing the Long War; and a look at why Iraq reminds of Vietnam. From National Journal, just as every soldier killed in Iraq leaves behind a story of tragedy and loss, every medal winner leaves behind a story of dedication and courage. But an analysis of the awards shows that the services skew their medals for merit and performance toward the higher ranks; and bad as the situation in Iraq may be, an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces would only make things worse. But with no easy answer in sight, what is the least of the available evils? Form Foreign Affairs, James F. Hoge, Jr. on Bush's Mission Impossible. Putting the annual cost of war in perspective: What $1.2 trillion can buy. Bush's Truman Show: War turns into performance art, as Bush strikes the pose of Harry Truman. To end the war gracefully or to inflame domestic political divisions: For Republicans, that is the question. To Flee or Not To Flee: How Republicans handle a failing president. George McGovern challenges the President on his moral integrity, policies and strategies as he leads the American people deeper into war. Jane Smiley on the psychology behind the worst possible president: The longer Bush is in office, the more his psychology becomes clear. He's not a well-meaning doofus; he's a madman. From Newsweek, are you experienced? Obama isn’t the only junior senator to eye the White House early in his tenure. How BHO stacks up against JFK. Smoker's Voice: How Obama's filthy habit could win him the presidency. And "Hi, I'm Senator Coburn, and I don't want your vote: But I do want you to know that the new Democratic leadership is just as corrupt and irresponsible as the Republicans, and together they’re trying to destroy our country" [Jan 17] From L'Espill, science, democracy, and the global market: Controversial areas of the technology sector are increasingly resolved by external experts who are often private entities; media manipulation has become a key element in the control of information about the products of science and technology. As Al Jazeera on the whole feels the heat of world media attention, we can hope that it will learn to harness its popularity in the service of humanity, progress and moderation. A review of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present. From Foreign Policy, Vietnam taught many Americans the wrong lesson: that determined guerrilla fighters are invincible. But history shows that insurgents rarely win, and Iraq should be no different. Joseph Nye on Bush’s old new plan for Iraq. No better idea: Max Boot on how both sides' strategies in Iraq are big ifs with big risks. The president's is worth a try. The Iraq Jinx: Christopher Hitchens on how Bush is blowing our last chance. Bush isn't Roger Staubach, trying to pull out a win for the Dallas Cowboys. He's Charles Keating, using other people's money to keep Lincoln Savings going long after it should have been shut down. An op-ed on what Congress can (and can't) do on Iraq. Charlie Cook on how we might be entering into a two-year period in which only the president's veto pen keeps him relevant on domestic issues, and his foreign policy effectively begins and ends with Iraq. Blink tanks -- blogs of progressive policy wonks -- are pressuring Democratic political strategists consumed with Iraq and domestic issues to restore civil liberties lost by passage of Bush's Military Commissions Act. Robert Samuelson on seven tough choices we will not make. He’s running: But just where does Barack Obama stand? (and ten things you didn't know about Obama). And a parable for Scooter: The good news, and bad news, for the vice president's former top aide [Jan 16] From Romania, built in 1377, once owned by Vlad the Impaler, the medieval landmark could end up as the centrepiece of a Dracula theme park. From The Moscow Times, a review of Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry and Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus. Yuliya Tymoshenko on Germany, Europe, and Russia (and more). From The New York Times Magazine, a cover story on the making, and unmaking, of a child soldier: One boy’s tortuous entanglement in an African civil war. A real-world AIDS vaccine? Circumcision could save as many lives in Africa as a shot. How modern Japanese women are slowly changing their country: An elephant can run very fast: An article on India’s boundless ambitions. Internationally recognized, the Union Jack is becoming less and less ubiquitous in Britain itself, and says Leith Davis, author of Acts of Union: Scotland and the Literary Negotiation of the British Nation, 1707—1830, "It's a problematic kind of anniversary, isn't it?" A review of The English National Character: The History of an Idea from Edmund Burke to Tony Blair. A review of Household Gods: The British and Their Possessions. More on Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them. And why are British sex scandals so much better than ours? Comparing Washington sex scandals with those of Britain's political class is enough to cause any red-blooded American to blush with shame

[Jan 31] The neocons have learned nothing from five years of catastrophe: Francis Fukuyama on how their zealous advocacy of the invasion of Iraq may have been a disaster, but now they want to do it all over again -- in Iran. The first issue of the International Journal of Conflict and Violence is out, including Nonna Mayer (Sciences Po): Transformations in French anti-Semitism pdf. From CT, a review of Cross on the Star of David: The Christian World in Israel's Foreign Policy, 1948-1967; Christian Zionism: Road-Map to Armageddon?; and Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter. The American Jewish Committee has recently stirred up a bitter debate by posting an essay arguing that liberal Jews are feeding a rise in virulent anti-Semitism (and the essay: "Progressive’ Jewish Thought and the New Anti-Semitism" pdf). This duplicitous liberal-left is nothing but a straw man: The claim by pro-war writers and their neocon allies that the left dumped its principles to embrace 'islamofascism' is absurd. From New Humanist, Nick Cohen on Double Entryism: The Revolutionary Communist Party and the Institute of Ideas. Solidarity Whenever: A review of What's Left? by Nick Cohen. "Why do you write such controversial books?": David Kuo interviews Dinesh D'Souza, the Machiavellian idiot and wingnut in sheep's clothing. From Archipelago, an article on the Cold War and the War on Terror; and an essay on James Webb, General MacArthur and the Dangerous Unknown of Our Untested Innocence. A review of Why Not Kill Them All? The Logic and Prevention of Mass Political Murder, and a review of Why War? The Cultural Logic of Iraq, the Gulf War, and Suez. A review of Alliance: The Inside Story of How Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill Won One War and Began Another. Europe's Original Sin: A review of Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 by Tony Judt, The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis and Europe Central by William T. Vollmann. The good old days of selling democracy: A look at how Marshall Plan films offer a history lesson in public relations. Twisting arms isn't as easy as dropping bombs: Whenever the United States goes to war, pro-war and antiwar advocates immediately reach for different history books. Hawks always equate the situation to a Hitler-Chamberlain standoff. Doves invariably pull the Vietnam War. If you want to know what's really wrong with the American Armed Forces, and why "The Surge" is doomed to fail, then look no further than the sordid case of Colonel Mike Steele. He of Blackhawk Down fame. And John McCain was against war in Iraq before he was for it, and here's a way to keep tabs on The REAL McCain [Jan 30] From TNR, Bradford Plumer on how rich people control politics. A review of What's Left? How Liberals Lost Their Way by Nick Cohen. From Reason, peace on the border: Why anti-immigration conservatives fell flat in 2006. From The American Conservative, the failure of Fusionism: Libertarians are growing uneasy about their alliance with the Right, but that doesn’t necessarily make the Left a natural fit; and Leftward Christian Soldiers: With a new generation of leaders preaching social justice over cultural concerns, the Religious Right may not remain an automatic Republican constituency. A review of Radical Conservatism: The Right’s Political Religion. From The New American, an interview with Hillard W. Welch and Robert H.W. Welch III, the two sons of the late Robert Welch who founded the John Birch Society. From American, the economy of God: Evangelical Protestantism takes some lessons from commerce. From Springerin, the art of not becoming accustomed to anything: The vast reserve army of workers in precarious employment are the avant-garde of post-Fordism, constantly opening up new avenues of self-exploitation. Is Sarbanes-Oxley undermining America’s competitive edge? James Surowiecki investigates. A review of The Great Risk Shift: The Assault on American Jobs, Families, Health Care, and Retirement--And How You Can Fight Back by Jacob Hacker. Plato's Republic or Milton Friedman's Market? A new survey looks at policies designed to address all of the ills that economists and others have identified with markets. A review of Capitalism 3.0: A Guide to Reclaiming the Commons. From the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, Cass Sunstein on Willingness to Pay vs. Welfare. With apologies, nuclear power gets a second look: It doesn’t warm the planet. It isn’t imported. But nobody’s saying it’s perfect. From Harvard Political Review, a special issue on politics and biology. From The New York Times Magazine, a cover story on unhappy meals: The story of how basic questions about what to eat got so complicated reveals a great deal about the institutional imperatives of the food industry, nutritional science and journalism. A victory for McActivism: Animal rights activists have struck a major blow against inhumane farming techniques - with a little help from McDonald's. An article on 5 myths about suburbia and our car-happy culture. More and more on Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy by Barbara Ehrenreich. As the anti-Barbie, the American Girl doll is an exceptional artifact that combines the commercial with the good. Mattel makes money, and kids learn history. Even as children, transsexuals have the feeling of living in the wrong body. When should they be allowed to switch genders? And love and the law: Pressure is building to expand the legal definition of family beyond the boundaries of gay or straight marriage [Jan 29] From Al-Ahram, an interview with John Lewis Gaddis on the Age of Pandemonium. Was 9/11 really that bad? The attacks were a horrible act of mass murder, but history says we're overreacting. A review of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present (and more). During the 20th century, utopianism came to be damned as a seductive portal to totalitarianism and mass murder. Dreams of Peace and Freedom: Utopian Moments in the 20th Century tries to redeem its reputation. Paraphrasing the '60s: Are we glossing over the complex realities and just embracing the legend? Todd Gitlin wants to know. Is Nick Cohen right about the left? His critics reply. Jonathan Cohn on why liberalism isn't something to be ashamed of. How deep a distaste for politicians who waffle? Experiments that explore the effects of consistent and inconsistent political stands on voters have produced a range of results. But one theme that emerges is that people think they admire consistency more than they actually do. Winning Hearts and Stomachs: American business succeed because it is too anxious to please its customers to stick with formulas that aren't working. The question is whether American government can mimic that agility. A review of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. A review of Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled: The Qualities You Need to Stay Out of Harm's Way and Thrive at Work. From FT, an audit of affluence: Inequality of outcome has become so pronounced that it is being recommended as an investment strategy; and an interview with Pete Peterson, from immigrant beginnings to equity billions. The class debate demands to be heard: "The reality is that class still has a strong bearing on people's sense of how they orientate themselves in society". More on Affluenza: How to Be Successful and Stay Sane by Oliver James. Parents only want the best for their children. But sometimes academic success comes at a price. Who's your alternadaddy? An article on Neal Pollack's Alternadad and the ex-hipster as parent. A review of The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Women beware women: More on The Big Fat Bitch Book. 'Tis pity she's a whore: Wendy McElroy on what you need to read about prostitution. A review of Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction. From the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technology, Fenton to Habermas and bio-cons: Human nature is not fixed. And a review of How to Live Forever or Die Trying: On the New Immortality and The Never-Ending Days of Being Dead: Dispatches from the Front Line of Science (and more and more) [Weekend]  From Forward, an article on the deadly origins of a life-saving procedure. A Convenient Truth: Peter Singer on how lofty talk about human dignity should not stand in the way of profoundly intellectually disabled children getting the treatment that is best both for them and their families. From Salon, are vegetarians the moral, peace-loving, cruelty-free enemies of the meat-eater? Or a bunch of kooks living in la-la land? From Technology Review, some seemingly unconscious patients have startlingly complex brain activity. What does that mean about their potential for recovery? And what can it tell us about the nature of consciousness? (and part 2). A review of The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia. A review of Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality. Laura Miller investigates. Virginia Postrel reviews Last Best Gifts: Altruism and the Market for Human Blood and Organs by Kieran Healy. Healthy Bottom Lines: When it comes to comprehensive health care, what are progressives' core demands? Hitting Bottom: Emily Bazelon on why America should outlaw spanking. Let them have their pot: The feds should stop harassing sick patients who have the legal right to use marijuana. From Mother Jones, Klan-busting Southern man: The FBI arrests another aging White Knight in a Civil Rights-era murder based, in part, on the work of Mississippi newspaper reporter Jerry Mitchell. Women in Love: Laura Kipnis on Patty Marx, Christopher Hitchens, and funny women. Who are you calling a bitch? It's an insult often thrown at women who are strong, ambitious and outspoken. We'll take that as a compliment then. SWF ISO GBM Roommate: Is a woman who wants to share her pad with a gay man breaking the law? When Not All Publicity Is Good Publicity: Alexandra Pelosi finished her HBO documentary on evangelical America and then her main guide, Ted Haggard, was ruined by a sex scandal. Terry Eagleton reviews Barbara Ehrenreich's Dancing in the Streets. And an interview with Dale Carson, author of Arrest-Proof Yourself, a how-to guide for staying out of jail [Jan 26] From NYRB, Joseph Lelyveld on how no one can imagine the armistice or surrender that would signify an end to this war; and William Pfaff on Manifest Destiny: A new direction for America. A review of America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked and Friendly Fire: Losing Friends and Making Enemies in the Anti-American Century; and a review of Our Endangered Values by Jimmy Carter; The Left Hand of God by Michael Lerner; Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister’s Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future; The Hijacking of Jesus by Dan Wakefield; and God’s Politics by Jim Wallis. Religion of despair: Disciples of evangelism in the United States are often regarded with fear and suspicion. But for many it's seen as a route out of poverty and hopelessness. From The New Humanist, in a free trial issue, Laurie Taylor talks to Richard Dawkins about the reception of The God Delusion, Fred Halliday calls for an end to the Vatican's undeserved power, Peter Tatchell on Iraq's homophobic death squads and Shappi Khorsandi on the glamourous life of an aetheist stand-up. From Boston Review, can we stop global warming? An essay on the human hand in climate change, and several proposals about what to do now. A look at how the Sun's fickle heart may leave us cold. Are radical environmentalists wackos, terrorists, or prophets warning against environmental catastrophe? And yes, we can save the world... if we want to--but by wearing more polyester? Waking up and catching up: Belatedly, and for many reasons, America is embracing environmentalism. Businesses are vying to save the planet, and getting rich. But does it matter, so long as they deliver the goods? A new issue of Econ Journal Watch is out. Who was Milton Friedman? Paul Krugman investigates. Long love affairs with Libertarianism: A review of Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement. Incomes and Inequality: Tyler Cowen on what the numbers don’t tell us. The cost of capitalism: A review of Affluenza by Oliver James. Ebay's Jeff Skoll and Pierre Omidyar today are at the edge of something else -- a wave of new thinking out of Silicon Valley that, if the tech industry keeps minting new billionaires, could shape the way huge sums of private capital get invested in social change. And stop picking stocks—immediately! Why the world's greatest stock picker stopped picking stocks, and why you should, too [Jan 25] The big Vietnam lie: Rick Perlstein on the most perverse, successful propaganda campaign in American history. Why Democrats can stop the war: Pundits say if the party gets too tough with Bush, it will be blamed for "losing" Iraq. But the real political risk is going too easy on Bush, and losing the trust of war-weary voters. Our mercenaries in Iraq: The president relies on thousands of private soldiers with little oversight, a disturbing example of the military-industrial complex. An occupying army, an Islamic insurgency, and no end in sight: Scott McLemee looks at two books ripped from the headlines — of 50 years ago. From FrontPage, the Appeaser at Home: A review of Dinesh D'Souza's The Enemy at Home (and an exchange). President Bush's State of the Union address was full of evidence he is hellbent on going to war with Iran. Here's what the Democrats can do to stop it. Do you have to have balls to have balls? It's nice the talking heads have discovered Jim Webb, but why do they think Democrats have to be men to be courageous? In Tuesday's speech, President Bush showed how unserious he is about global warming. Here's how Congress can put the heat on him and stave off approaching disaster. Chris Mooney on global warming action: Looks like we'll have to wait until '09. From US News, the Senate's rhythm: A great deliberative body? Or presidential wannabes who can't stop talking? The Socialist Senator: How did Bernie Sanders, a disheveled and awkward political outcast, make it to the upper chamber of Congress? And what will he do now that he’s there? How soon will freshman Democrats get jaded? Jonathan Chait investigates. From Reason, an interview with Ron Paul on war, immigration, and presidential ambition. Kenneth Baer on how to run for president without much cash. From Salon, Barack Obama would be the great black hope in the next presidential race -- if he were actually black (and a response). From Prospect, his unusual background and his ability to use it to articulate a hopeful version of the American dream have turned Barack Obama into a political star. But is the US ready for its first black president? And what do Hillary Clinton announcing her presidential candidacy on her Web site and the continuing travails of big media's digital transformation have in common? [Jan 24] From Der Spiegel, Islamic scholar Gudrun Krämer discusses tolerance and freedom of religion among Muslims, the role of the Crusades and colonialism in today's conflicts, and the mistakes made by Western critics. Why Americans fear Muslims: Reza Aslan and Daniel Benjamin debate American Islam. A review of Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror. A review of The American Way of Strategy by Michael Lind. A review of The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis. From Monthly Review, a review of Marxism and Ecological Economics: Toward a Red and Green Political Economy. A review of Inescapable Ecologies: A History of Environment, Disease and Knowledge. Robert Boyton interviews Jonathan Schell on people's power vs. nuclear power pdf. From IEET, an interview with Nick Bostrom on the future, transhumanism and the end of the world. A review of Reinventing the Soul: Posthumanist Theory and Psychic Life. From Business Week, a review of The Foundation: A Great American Secret. A review of The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for America's Youngest Consumers. Maybe what members of Congress need is not another lecture on the minimum wage from an economist, but rather an old-fashioned Socratic inquisition. A review of Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor. What’s a pound of prevention really worth? Preventive medicine just doesn’t pay in the current American medical system. From Slate, the next Jewish challenge: They've tackled gay ordination. Now it's time to address intermarriage. You may be surprised. Dream Girl: Why Beyoncé Knowles is a 21st-century role model. And the great unknown: It's difficult to imagine a land uninterested in celebrities, but it is possible [Jan 23] From Fifth Estate, All Gods, All Masters: Immanence and Anarchy/Ontology. From LewRockwell.com, an article on the new totalitarianism--and the old. Christopher Hitchens reviews What's Left? How the Liberals Lost Their Way by Nick Cohen (and an excerpt). From Salon, an interview with Frank Luntz on how to speak Republican. A review of Unspeak: How Words Become Weapons, How Weapons Become a Message, and How That Message Becomes Reality. A review of The Education of Ronald Reagan: The General Electric Years and the Untold Story of His Conversion to Conservatism. From FrontPage, an interview with Dinesh D'Souza on The Enemy at Home. For the intemperateness of his views, he is surprisingly soft-spoken and personable. This doesn’t excuse the tripe that D’Souza puts out, however; and more and more on D'Souza and the smatterers at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Reaching new moral ground: In today's climate, we could learn from the work of Lawrence Kohlberg, who strived to find a shared morality among humans. American exceptions: Two old men who died this winter personify the enduring wisdom of another United States. From Dissident Voice, Satan and sex manias: An article on moral panics and the mob mind. If humans engaged in broadcast spawning, men's sperm would have to be hilarious. The Lonely Optician: Does your love life comply with state regulations? From TAP, for richer or poorer: Scott Lemieux on why the Roe decision was about class, too; and anatomy of a ban: A line-by-line look at Georgia's proposed abortion-ban bill reveals the future of radical anti-choice legislation. A review of Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court by Jan Crawford Greenburg (and more). Can John Roberts make the justices chill out? Benjamin Wittes wants to know. Diagramming Sentences: Emily Bazelon on the Supreme Court's war on sentencing guidelines. Form Skeptic, a review of The End of Faith by Sam Harris. An article on Marcel Gauchet and the return of religion through a secular gate. And from Christianity Today, a review of Minding the Spirit: The Study of Christian Spirituality and New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality; five streams of the Emerging Church: A look at key elements of the most controversial and misunderstood movement in the church today; and on the politics of service: An article on William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, and Abraham Kuyper, three Christian activists who drew on faith to fight social challenges [Jan 22] Form Theory and Science, an essay on America in the World; a review of Empire of Capital by Ellen Meiksins Wood and The New Imperialism by David Harvey and an article on Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century. A review of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East: 1776 to the Present. Condoleezza Rice often calls herself "a student of history." And increasingly, she is using history -- or her chosen slice of it -- both to explain and justify the Bush administration's Middle East policy. Andrew Bacevich on the failure of an all-volunteer military. A review of The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World. A review of Global Financial Warriors: The Untold Story of International Finance in the Post-9/11 World. Uncommon bonds: Can the glue of economic populism hold the Democrats' unlikely new majority together? The coming battle over immigration may be the test. Are unions relevant? SEIU President Andy Stern thinks so. But he also sees a need for an attitude adjustment. The Orange Meets Economics 101: A citrus-killing freeze has hit America’s orange-growing heartland, so how high can navel orange prices go now? It’s a simple matter of supply and demand. Global warming is alarming, but there's no need to be defeatist: our future is in our own hands. Here Lucy Siegle offers 36 positive suggestions on how we can change our lives, reduce carbon emissions and help save the planet. A review of How to Live Forever or Die Trying. Earth Cover: How a cosmetics company replaced romance with the glow of rationality. The Search for Beautiful: Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for white women. Now record numbers of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics are lining up for a nip here, a tuck there. Are they chasing a Caucasian ideal of beauty? Or are they aiming for racial and ethnic ambiguity? Why are there so many single Americans? It’s worth repeating: the "marriage gap" isn’t about men and women. It’s about class and education. History loves an unmarried woman: Romance is returning to patterns attuned with our ancient human spirit. A review of The Big Fat Bitch Book for Girls. Scenes from the Exhibitionists: Some of her best friends are women, but Kay Hymowitz has come to the conclusion that we've seen too much of the fairer sex. From The New York Times Magazine, a cover story of Post-Abortion Syndrome: A growing number of anti-abortion activists, despite social-science research, claim that women are traumatized by their abortions — and are trying to use this to reframe the abortion debate. And from The New Yorker, what's the trouble? An article on how doctors think [Weekend] From Freedom House, a report on Freedom in the World 2007: Year Marked by Global "Freedom Stagnation," Setbacks for Democracy in Asia. From Ord&Bild, with his bestselling The Mystery of Capital, Hernando de Soto has become something of a superstar of Development Economics. But Staffan Granér finds de Soto's methods unreliable and his theories over-simplified. From its earliest days, the World Bank has been a lightning rod for criticism -- mostly relating to a slew of failed projects. But in recent years the Bank has shifted its strategy, working more closely with client countries and battling African corruption. Have those efforts made it a more effective institution? Who screwed up globalization? Blame governments, not corporations, for the problems. Davos' downhill slide: The World Economic Forum once drew protests and media blitzes, but the meeting of the world's biggest leaders has become increasingly irrelevant. Robert J. Shiller on investing in the poor. Scavenging for Survival: In developing countries like Senegal, some families have adopted a day-at-the-dump lifestyle just to survive. Plutocrats of the People: Why are America's superrich suddenly fretting about income inequality? From Business Week, beyond the green corporation: Imagine a world in which eco-friendly and socially responsible practices actually help a company's bottom line. It's closer than you think. Tim Harford on why markets are almost efficient, but not quite. William Greider on the Economic Policy Institute's agenda for change: Americans are ready for big, bold ideas to heal our social and economic wounds. Chris Hedges on how the radical Christian Right is built on suburban despair. And dreams of Californication: A look at how a wave of migrants from the west has transformed the Rocky Mountains [Jan 19] From The Huffington Post, David Roberts on bashing dirty hippies and getting played: A case study in six chapters. If thought of as a painting, the scientific picture of a growing human influence on the climate has moved from being abstract a century ago to impressionistic 30 years ago to pointillist today. The end of the world as we know it: In January, when the temperature is 20 degrees above normal, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of planetary meltdown. From TomDispatch, a series on the global energy race and its consequences: Is energo-fascism in your future? and an article on petro-power and the nuclear renaissance. A review of I Want You! The Evolution of the All-Volunteer Force. If the US government doesn't plan to occupy Iraq for any longer than necessary, why is it spending billions of dollars to build "enduring" bases? From TAP, disaster by design: Why the Iraq occupation discredits the conservative approach to government. Katha Pollit reviews Dinesh D'Souza's The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11. On the march, not on the run: Intelligence agencies see worrying signs of al-Qaeda's revival. A review of Fundamentalism: a very short introduction and Integrating Islam: political and religious challenges in contemporary France. Let's Burn the Burqa: Women who choose to don burqas contribute to passing moral judgment on the women who don’t. Der Spiegel presents an atlas of the world's religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Eastern faiths. An interview with Richard Dawkins on The God Delusion. Robert Wright on how we make life-and-death decisions. A review of Unplugged: Reclaiming Our Right to Die in America. The civil liberties organization ACLU is engulfed in a tumultuous family feud over its controversial leader. Have the Supreme Court's opinions become suggestions in Texas? Dahlia Lithwick wants to know. From PopMatters, the history of the United States is essentially the history of an idea; the idea that all men are created equal, and its gradual manifestation in actuality with all of its contradictions and hypocrisies. From MRZine, an interview with Howard Zinn. And a new strategy for progressive politics: Social club? Revolution? Drinking Liberally takes politics into the barroom and just about everywhere else [Jan 18] From Dissent, an article on due process and Empire’s law: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and the present danger of military tribunals; and from Nuremberg to Guantánamo: An essay on medical ethics then and now. John Yoo and Robert Delahunty on executive power v. international law. An essay on constitutionalism, a political thinking of the center. From TAP, this late in the day, most of the liberal hawks' challenges to Iraq doves are bogus -- but not quite all of them. Joe Conason on the fine line between our friends and enemies; and My Plea for Chaos: A modest proposal for anarchy in Iraq. After the battle is won: A review of The Art of Victory. A review of The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World. Dinesh D'Souza on how the left led us into 9/11: The Clinton and Carter administrations made the U.S. look like a weak, attractive target for terrorists. From New English Review, is the heart of man irredeemably evil, or at any rate inclined to evil? What are the conditions in which evil may flourish? Theodore Dalrymple wants to know; and will the United States survive until 2022? John Derbyshire investigates. From First Things, an essay on America in the European mind. From The Chronicle, European antipathy toward America is at a high point. And that's by no means all President Bush's fault. From The New Federalist, an article o