Weekend reading and touring

More than 10 years managing programs at USIP have left me well behind in the bookreading category.  This week’s efforts will be focused on finishing Joseph Stiglitz’ and Linda Bilmes’ The Three Trillion Dollar War, now two years old but still edifying, and Michael Mandelbaum’s more recent and even more edifying The Frugal Superpower, which examines the constraints fiscal stringency will put on American foreign policy. Both are well-written, easy reads, on which I’ll comment more fully once I’ve finished them.

I’m also planning a visit today to President Lincoln’s Cottage, where he spent many nights during the Civil War.  Adjacent to a Union cemetery, the cottage is today largely unfurnished.  But the National Park Service tour somehow manages to evoke the environment in which Lincoln deliberated on slavery and war.  There is nothing like your own civil war for beginning to understand other people’s civil wars.

I’ll be on the road tomorrow but hope to be up and running again bright and early Monday.  Have a fine weekend!

admin

Share
Published by
admin

Recent Posts

Failure and disgrace in 100 days

The Administration is weakening the United States. That is the only thing at which it…

2 days ago

Heading for Kyiv, thinking about post-war

This war should end with a prosperous, democratic Ukraine in Europe. If I can contribute…

3 days ago

Popular protests in Serbia target Vucic

The question is whether the demonstrators can exploit the moment to unseat a wily and…

1 week ago

What US aid will look like after USAID

US aid will be a cash cow for Trump donors, a mainstay of autocratic regimes…

2 weeks ago

A Passover for the Palestinians

Might makes right can work for a while. But in the end they will need…

2 weeks ago

The damage is vast and continuing

The simple fact is we were better off on January 19 than we are today.…

2 weeks ago