Shopping Invaders
Symptom of Mexico’s Problem
In every shopping season, the upscale malls and expensive retail outlets in my hometown are flooded with wealthy shoppers from Mexico who come here to spend lots of money. But why do these affluent Mexicans travel a thousand miles and stay at expensive hotels just to shop?
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The Balkans
Reflections on Kosovo: Part I
When I first deployed to Kosovo as a brand new soldier in 2000, it was a grand and dangerous adventure. Now after two tours in Iraq I have come to see Kosovo as a cakewalk but I am glad that I was able to do it. I learned a lot from that time and I carry the lessons and positive memories with me.
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Running Out of Oil?
The Recurring Hysteria
Every few years there is always a media sensation about how the planet running out of oil. However, it doesn’t take very long for the sensation to die off in the press because more vast oil reserves are discovered. However, in the lapse of several years another media sensation explodes and the cycle repeats itself.
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Sarkozy
Taking France Seriously Again?
With French conservative Nicolas Sarkozy as the new leader of France, perhaps this is really good news for the United States since he is admittedly pro-American. Sarkozy should also be a good fit for France since he plans to push through a pro-market, anti-crime legislative reform package.
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The European Union
How America Can Benefit
Americans are apprehensive, enthusiastic or ignorant about the European Union. The E.U. is certainly an economic giant with a huge market that presents the possibility of creating very powerful synergies that would be unattainable otherwise. Here's how the U.S. would benefit from a strong European Union.
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Muslim Anger
Please Offend Me
After decades of practicing political correctness, diversity training, tolerance, and multiculturalism, Western Europe is facing escalating confrontations with radical Islam. The result has been violent altercations or the threat of violence. In fact, radical Muslims almost savor the confrontations.
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Oil Producing Nations
But Most Are Not Cashing In
With growing global demand and tight supplies, the prices for light sweet crude oil keeps breaking records which creates misery for everyone at the gas pump.
So with fuel prices rocketing into the stratosphere, aren’t the oil patch countries making obscene profits? Regrettably, the answer is not really.
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Poverty
How Can Poverty be Defined?
The media has devoted quite a bit of attention to the pressing global problem of poverty. And rightly so because this issue is catastrophic and horrific in the impoverished areas around the world. But first, how do you really define what poverty really is? Knowing the question is also part of the solution.
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God is Brazilian
Brazil’s Rising Energy Dominance
How did Brazil emerge as a leader in energy production? President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva famously declared that “God is Brazilian” when a huge oil reserve was discovered. Actually, the country is soaring in economic growth. So how did Brazil create wealth and new jobs? Simple, the government abandoned socialism.
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Aid or Trade
Impoverished Countries Worsen
Since 1960, Africa has already been the recipient of more than $400 billion in very generous foreign aid so where is the progress? Where is the development of infrastructure and were any vibrant economies created? But a better question is where did all the money go? What was done with it?
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Israel and Palestine
Little Known Facts
Believe it or not, much of what is reported in the press is outright falsehood; some deliberate, and some simply the result of poor journalistic practice. Many of us color what we know with our own biases, such as support for Israel based on scriptural references or support for Arafat based on militant anti-Semitism.
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The Balkans: The UN
Reflections on Kosovo: Part II
My seven month tour in Kosovo taught me a lot about the world and it shattered some of my collegiate naivety that I had about Europe and about the United Nations. It was also the first time in my life (and not the last) that I had come into contact with pure violence, genocidal racism, and real hatred.
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World Hunger
Is it America's Fault?
One organization claims that not only can world hunger be completely wiped out; it can be accomplished solely by the United States. Much of the Left Wing seems to feel that America is exclusively responsible for starvation in the world because they seem to think that we have the ability to easily end it.
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