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Socialism rises from the grave

June 5, 2019  •  The Washington Times

In 2002, Joshua Muravchik, a distinguished scholar, wrote a history of socialism which, he thought, might also be considered an epitaph for socialism.

Beginning in the 18th century, socialism had taken many forms in many countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. These experiments failed, in many cases spectacularly and tragically.

Surely, socialism was dead and buried. Yes, but like a zombie in a horror movie, it rose from the grave.

Mr. Muravchik's book was titled: "Heaven on Earth: The Rise and Fall of Socialism." A new edition, published last month, carries the subtitle, "The Rise, Fall, and Afterlife of Socialism," and includes a long and edifying epilogue.

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Iran's rulers feel the pain

May 29, 2019  •  The Washington Times

Defenders of the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran predicted that President Trump's sanctions would have little impact unless our European friends joined in. They were dead wrong.

That same crowd is now in a frenzy over Mr. Trump deploying military assets to the Middle East to deter or, if necessary, punish attacks on Americans by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or its many proxies.

They have been claiming — including in paid advertisements — that Mr. Trump is leading a "march to war."

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The imperative of deterrence

May 22, 2019  •  The Washington Times

Are we at war yet? Over recent days, warnings of a gathering storm have been ubiquitous and incessant.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said he was "gravely concerned about actions taken by the administration that appear calculated to put us on a collision course" with Iran's rulers.

Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, echoed the charge being made by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif: "Trump's potential war with Iran is all John Bolton's doing."

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The axis of oppression

May 15, 2019  •  The Washington Times

How do you kill a lion? Years ago in Kenya, the question arose (no doubt over too many Tusker beers) and someone gave me what sounded like an authoritative answer.

He said even a skilled tribal hunter, armed with only a spear, would be unlikely to survive such an attempt. So a strategy was developed. Several hunters would surround the beast, and whoever found himself behind it would step forward and stab it. When the lion turned, the hunter now at its rear would do the same. On and on until, sooner or later, bloodied and exhausted, the lion would succumb.

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China isn't what it used to be

May 8, 2019  •  The Washington Times

Last week, presidential contender Joseph Biden asked rhetorically: "China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man!" He added: "I mean, you know, they're not bad folks. But guess what, they're not competition for us!"

As vice president and, before that, as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Biden met foreign leaders and voted on foreign policy legislation. On that basis, he fancies himself a foreign policy expert. But at least where China is concerned, he has not kept up.

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