Blog
Who cried three times during a Broadway touring musical about the pop songwriter-singer Neil Diamond? Recently, Carolyn and I saw “A Beautiful Noise” about Diamond’s career and emotional challenges. And yes, the one who cried was me. Let me explain, particularly since today is the Fourth of July. One of the show’s first songs was…
Right after Air Force B-2s dropped “bunker busters” on Fordo and Natanz last Saturday, President Trump announced that those facilities had been “obliterated.” Did he jump the gun? A preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency report—I emphasize “preliminary”— stated that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back by only two to three months. In a few days, more optimistic…
When making decisions, government leaders must evaluate their nation’s pain threshold and their own political risks. Cue Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump gave Khamenei 60 days to agree to processing uranium only for civilian use—and outside Iran. Khamenei refused. The deadline passed. Given the stalemate and American inaction, Israeli prime minister Benjamin…
A military parade in Washington will mark Flag Day tomorrow when Donald Trump again dishonors the Stars and Stripes. I love our flag. At its best, it stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—and equal treatment before the law—for everyone. The parade supposedly will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. I have…
The Trump administration boasts about protecting American Jews from antisemitism and anti-Israel attacks. The truth is just the opposite. Jews have been called “the canary in the coal mine.” Attacks on Jews warn that a society is giving way to ethnic autocracy. Other minorities soon will be assaulted. This canary smells the scent emanating from…
The Defense Department just accepted a luxury Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar to serve as Air Force One. But that’s only half the story. The new plane, meant to serve only King Donald, must undergo serious modifications to make it presidentially secure. But other changes will be made in response to Oval Office demands. The…
Will my neighborhood in San Francisco’s Richmond District undergo NIMBY-YIMBY warfare? Or will common sense prevail? A while back, the Little Sisters of the Poor closed St. Anne’s Home, which housed retired nuns. They put up for sale the six-acre property, a 10-minute walk from my house. The site fronts on upscale, leafy Lake Street…
The Greek philosopher Plato and several comic-strip characters can tell us where America should be going. Plato wrote of numina and phenomena. Numina represent the ideal. Phenomena attempt to express the ideal in physical or other form. Plato used a chair as an example. The ideal chair can’t be seen. Real chairs, whatever their design, are attempts to…
Does eating breakfast make me a Benedict Arnold? I’ve always considered myself a loyal American. When I was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army after being graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, I swore to protect and defend the Constitution. I maintain that oath. Now, am I aiding and abetting a…