Krugman: A Market Without Buyers

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The financial markets continue to do their scary dance. Krugman knows how to put some drama in this kind of otherwise arcane type of tale, as not many of us are economists and economics is almost like math. Krugman relates that this scare may well pass soon and be no more than a wakening tremor, but I'm getting it down for the record.

( Krugman )

Further Sources

Desmond Lachman, "The US Housing Bust is a Big Deal" in TCSDaily.com

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Krugman: A Market Without Buyers

♠
The financial markets continue to do their scary dance. Krugman knows how to put some drama in this kind of otherwise arcane type of tale, as not many of us are economists and economics is almost like math. Krugman relates that this scare may well pass soon and be no more than a wakening tremor, but I'm getting it down for the record.

( Krugman )

Further Sources

Desmond Lachman, "The US Housing Bust is a Big Deal" in TCSDaily.com

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Nashi: Putin's Brownshirts

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Then came a remarkable response from a Russian forum participant, a 19-year-old university student from St. Petersburg: "RUSSIA THE BEST!!! AMERICA SUCKS!!!" she wrote in capital letters. "Next time write about the things that happen in your gay country, leave Russia alone!!!! Putin is the greatest president and we have the greatest history ever!"

-- Cathy Young for The Boston Globe

Ms. Young gives us a good backgrounder on how the Putin government moblizes Russia's conservative youths to support its stature and polices, drawing on how much they strikingly recall Hiter's brownshirts.

The old Cold War seems to have only gone into another phase.

( column )

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Nashi: Putin's Brownshirts

♠
Then came a remarkable response from a Russian forum participant, a 19-year-old university student from St. Petersburg: "RUSSIA THE BEST!!! AMERICA SUCKS!!!" she wrote in capital letters. "Next time write about the things that happen in your gay country, leave Russia alone!!!! Putin is the greatest president and we have the greatest history ever!"

-- Cathy Young for The Boston Globe

Ms. Young gives us a good backgrounder on how the Putin government moblizes Russia's conservative youths to support its stature and polices, drawing on how much they strikingly recall Hiter's brownshirts.

The old Cold War seems to have only gone into another phase.

( column )

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Considering the Draft

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WASHINGTON — Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday.

"I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

"And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.

-- The Huffington Post

This report also makes it clear that President Bush remains adamant against the draft, and that General Lute understands this.

How would Americans react to a new draft after so many years without one?

Is it possible to remain on this kind of war footing without one, especially when Iran and Pakistans are seen as potential new targets on top of Iraq and Afghanistan?

Or would the political pressures of a draft be so fierce that it would ultimately hasten a retreat into isolationism?

Considering Bush's unpopularity, he may be the only one who could pull it off, or at least get a draft started and going. If he indeed refrains from the draft, I cannot imagine the next Administration, whether Democratic or Republican, taking that political risk.

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Considering the Draft

♠
WASHINGTON — Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday.

"I think it makes sense to certainly consider it," Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

"And I can tell you, this has always been an option on the table. But ultimately, this is a policy matter between meeting the demands for the nation's security by one means or another," Lute added in his first interview since he was confirmed by the Senate in June.

-- The Huffington Post

This report also makes it clear that President Bush remains adamant against the draft, and that General Lute understands this.

How would Americans react to a new draft after so many years without one?

Is it possible to remain on this kind of war footing without one, especially when Iran and Pakistans are seen as potential new targets on top of Iraq and Afghanistan?

Or would the political pressures of a draft be so fierce that it would ultimately hasten a retreat into isolationism?

Considering Bush's unpopularity, he may be the only one who could pull it off, or at least get a draft started and going. If he indeed refrains from the draft, I cannot imagine the next Administration, whether Democratic or Republican, taking that political risk.

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