Europe

Toulouse terror and anti-Semitism: usual denial on both sides

In the wake of last month’s kill-spree in southern France, lines across the blogosphere are drawn predictably, indicating the near-complete polarization and lack of any dialectical spark in contemporary thinking on the question of Jew-hatred.

Iraq

Iraq: illusion of stability

Amid official optimism about Iraq that surrounded the Arab League summit in Baghdad, the insurgency continues; Kurdistan has again halted oil exports in a dispute with the national government, and the fugitive vice president has fled to Qatar.

The Andes

What is it with Vargas Llosa anyway?

Peru’s Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa addresses an elite right-wing confab in Lima, intoning against the threat of “populism” and warning that “the radical left has found in ecology a new banner.” He also boasts that he has no cell phone.

Watching the Shadows

Anti-Obama conspiracies seen in oil price spike

Just as the presidential horserace starts to gain velocity, so do oil prices. Are the Koch brothers manipulating prices to undermine Obama in November? Their recent dabblings in “contango” oil market speculations indicate this may be the case…

Planet Watch

Meanwhile, the oceans are dying…

A new report by British scientists finds that the current level of carbon dioxide emissions will wipe out about 30% of the world’s marine species by the end of the century. Released carbon dioxide is leading to acidification of the oceans.

Watching the Shadows

Drones cleared to patrol US cities; avatar robots not far behind

President Obama signs a bill requiring the FAA to permit the use of domestic drones, both for commercial purposes and police surveillance. Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s DARPA announces it is developing robot “avatars” for battlefield use…

The Andes

Chavista anti-Semitism —again

There are doubtless many good reasons to oppose Henrique Capriles Radonski, the bourgeois politician who is challenging Hugo Chávez for Venezuela’s presidency. His Jewish background is equally assuredly not among them.