Milt's File - Extension 720 - WGN Radio 720 Chicago

MILT'S FILE
May 2002

May 31, 2002:
A NEW MISSILE THREAT? Bill Gertz is, in our opinion, one of the best-informed journalists on the security beat. Thus, coming from him, this information needs to be dispersed, scary though it may be.
http://asp.washtimes.com/

LEFTIST GADFLY GETS LYNCHED BACK HOME IN LONDON. Chris Hitchens, a wonderfully independent and usually cynical "upper journalist" brings the British left into apoplectic rage by asserting that the war on terrorism is just and necessary.
http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/

ONE JESUIT'S VIEW OF THE DECLINE OF HIS ORDER. This review The Weekly Standard paints a painful picture of life among the Black Robes in this latter time. One might well ask how the shift towards a gay order (if the authors of the reviewed book and the reviewer are to be believed) relates to the pedophile scandals.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/

CLASSIC COUNTRY. A fine collection featuring, among others, Tom T. Hall, Charlie Rich, the Gatlin Brothers, Waylon Jennings, and the omnipresent Dolly Parton. Good stuff!
http://www.beau-dacious.addr.com/

May 30, 2002:
AL QUEDA AND KASHMIR. The disputed territory of Kashmir is at the heart of the India-Pakistan dispute. This article from USA Today indicates that al Queda is attempting to exploit the tension, presumably in the hope of provoking all-out war. Meanwhile, the U.S. is reportedly preparing a possible evacuation of all American citizens and military personnel from South Asia, even as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld prepares to visit the region next week.
http://www.usatoday.com/

BUSH'S EUROPEAN TOUR: AN APPRAISAL. The Economist, always a keen observer of U.S.-European affairs, analyzes the President's visit to the continental powers.
http://www.economist.com/

REORGANIZING THE BUREAU. The FBI announced yesterday that it will be reorganize to focus on domestic terrorism prevention. In fact, all three of the bureau's top priorities now deal with terrorism. Its website has a "Reorganization" homepage that provides much useful, if fairly prosaic, information.
http://www.fbi.gov/

THE REAL U of C. Tonight we'll examine the Western Civ controversy at the University of Chicago and its significance in the broader context of American higher education. One of our guests, Robert Stone, heads Concerned Friends of the University of Chicago and administers the website below, which addresses similar issues.
http://www.realuofc.org/

THE FUNNY INSTRUMENT. The bassoon has an intrinsically comic timbre--even though it often adds dark coloration in symphonic music. No one ever used it better than did Mozart in this wonderfully odd concerto.
http://www.gmn.com/

May 29, 2002:
IS BUSH REALLY WIMPING OUT? This column raises the question that has been stirred by the "story" that the Joint Chiefs are opposed to action against Iraq --and by Bush's statement that he has "no war plan on (his) desk." (continued below)
http://www.nationalreview.com/

BECAUSE....the Brookings Institution's top defense analyst, Michael O'Hanlon, says that, militarily at least, the U.S. is more than ready to fight Iraq.
http://www.brookings.org/

WHAT WENT WRONG? Our guest tonight is the dean of all Middle East scholars, Bernard Lewis of Princeton University. His Atlantic Monthly column of a few months past tries to unravel why the disparity between the Islamic world and Christendom became so wide, a topic which we will cover in full this evening.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

IS THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY THE LAST STRONGHOLD OF TRADITIONAL EDUCATION? So thinks Alan Wolfe who maintains that places like Boston College (Jesuit) hold onto and perpetuate the classic values of western civilization. Is the same true of Georgetown or, for that matter, Loyola of Chicago?
http://chronicle.com/

THE "JEWS" OF THE WEHRMACHT. A young scholar from Yale turned up compelling evidence, a few years ago, that there were many "mischlinge"(i.e. "half Jews") serving in the Nazi military forces. Here is an informative review of the book that now reports the findings in full.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

BEETHOVEN'S PASTORAL. His Sixth Symphony is perfect "program music". Furthermore, it beloved not only by mature persons but by little children, who particularly enjoy the rhythms of the third movement.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 28, 2002:
MISREADINGS. Crack investigative reporter Seymour Hersh has poked his nose into the pre-9/11 world of read and misread information. An excellent summary of, in his words, "Why the government didn't know what it knew."
http://www.newyorker.com/

THE SOUTH ASIAN CRISIS AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS. Here are two important pieces on various aspects of the crisis that surrounds Pakistan. In the first, The New York Times reports that the Taliban and al Queda leadership continue to operate actively from within Pakistani borders--a problem that greatly concerns U.S. officials as Pakistan's attention is drawn increasingly toward the standoff with India. The second piece is the full text of an interview with President Musharraf from the Times of India, on the crisis, the influence of the United States, and a host of other topics.
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

MOSTLY BOCELLI. The blind, Italian tenor does have a lulling and rather pure timbre. The question that has been under discussion for quite a while is whether he would project well on the operatic stage. I think he's great and here is a site with a generous sampling of his performances from the operatic repertory.
http://www.geocities.com/

May 27, 2002:
REMEMBERING THE DEAD. A simple and poignant piece from today's Weekly Standard: a list of those men and women who have given their lives in Afghanistan fighting the war on terrorism. An appropriate tribute on this Memorial Day.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/

HARVARD VS. ROTC. Banned from Harvard's campus since 1970, the Reserve Officer Training Corps may see a rebirth at our most venerated educational institution, thanks to president Larry Summers. If so, it might go a little way in improving that university's image, at least on this website.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/

THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON 9/11: A MICROHISTORY. A long and horrifyingly gripping piece from the Sunday New York Times on the 102 minutes from first crash to 2nd tower collapse at the World Trade Center on September 11.
http://www.nytimes.com/

MUDDY WATERS. In today's music site, a sampling from the subject of tonight's Extension 720, the great bluesman Muddy Waters. Try all three songs, but our favorite is "Long Distance Call".
http://www.muddywaters.com/

May 24, 2002:
BACKING DOWN ON IRAQ? Despite mostly bellicose rhetoric on Iraq since 9/11, it now appears that both the military and the administration may not be as gung-ho as once thought. Saddam may yet survive in power. The first piece here, from The Washington Post, indicates that the military has gained at least a postponement of any strike against Iraq. The second, from The Weekly Standard, expresses the growing frustration of that publication's editors with the administration's perceived waffling on Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/

A WEAKENED DEFENSE. How taxed are our armed forces? And are they capable of mounting a substantial campaign in Iraq or elsewhere, while continuing to maintain our commitments around the world? A Pentagon wargame, exposed in this New York Times article, indicates that the difficulties entailed by such a scenario could be severe.
http://www.nytimes.com/

FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH. Instead of including specific articles on the South Asian crisis today, we've decided to link you to two newspaper frontpages, both in English. One is from Pakistan, the other from India; it is fascinating to see the divergence of commentary over the same events.
http://www.dawn.com/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

MORT, AGAIN. Kondracke with a typically sensible column on "Washington at its worst," i.e. the politics and damaging mud-slinging that have emerged since last weeks revelations about pre-9/11 intelligence. We look forward to welcoming Mort back into the studio on June 6.
http://www.rollcall.com/

CHORAL MUSIC FROM RUSSIA. Hauntingly beautiful works from the Blagovest Sacred Music Ensemble. Try them all.
http://www.classical.ru:8080/

May 23, 2002:
DEBATING THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: CAMP DAVID AND BEYOND. Though the Camp David talks of 2000 may seem increasingly irrelevant, the debate over them continues to have repercussions on the current crisis. From The New York Review of Books, an extensive interview with Ehud Barak on the failure to achieve a peace and response from his critics.
http://www.nybooks.com/1
http://www.nybooks.com/2

PRE-9/11 WARNINGS: THE POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS. Ryan Lizza of The New Republic here argues that, rightly or wrongly, the Democrats' attack on the White House may yet have heavy consequences.
http://www.tnr.com/

INDIA V. PAKISTAN. Jane's, arguably the best publication on defense issues, weighs in on the likelihood of war in South Asia. It's conclusion: "No war for a few months, but a lot of bellicose rhetoric and more low-level actions."
http://www.janes.com/

PRESS COVERAGE AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM. Well over eighty years old now, Mike Wallace continues to be an active part of "60 Minutes" and one of the most respected television journalists of the past half-century. He spoke yesterday at the Brookings Instituion about the role and performance of the press during the current war.
http://www.brookings.edu/

VIVALDI. Portions of his "Concerto in D Major," beautifully performed at the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 22, 2002:
BUSH VISITS EUROPE. How will he be received? Much of Europe's citizenry has turned against American foreign policy since the initial solidarity in the wake of 9/11. Over the next week, the president will visit most of our major allies, the centerpieces of discussion being the future of international security and the war on terrorism. Three major news organizations register initial reports below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.economist.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/

FRIEDMAN ON THE PAST WEEK. Resident New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman weighs in on the spate of "warnings" issued in recent days. He may have a point: there is something inherently troubling about all these non-specific alerts, particularly when done from a defensive posture.
http://www.nytimes.com/

A DECISIVE BATTLE COMING? Still largely overlooked, the tensions in South Asia appear to be nearing a crescendo. Two foreign sources bring the latest, troubling news.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/

BIN LADEN AND THE MARKETS. Rumors that Osama bin Laden had been captured by U.S. troops caused stocks to rally on Wall Street late this afternoon. Though the rumors proved false, it nevertheless shows that the progress of the war does have a real impact on American markets and on the economy in general.
http://biz.yahoo.com/

THE 1812 OVERTURE. A portion of Tchaikovsky's brilliant dedication to the defeat of Napoleon in Russia, as performed, appropriately, by the Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 21, 2002:
THE INEVITABILITY OF CATASTROPHE. At Senate hearings today, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld warned of the inevitability that terrorists groups would acquire weapons of mass destruction. While not intended to be translated as immediate, concrete warnings, rumblings from within the administration in recent days have certainly been disconcerting.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/

"ISLAMOPHOBIA": A BRITISH PERSPECTIVE. Ian Buruma, a columnist for the UK Guardian, refutes critics that claim an irrational "Islamophobia" in the West. The issue, he argues, is not one of inherent prejudice, but rather of rational threat analysis.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/

RECALLING GOULD. From the archives of The Atlantic, a 1982 article by the late Stephen Jay Gould on creationism. Whether you agree or disagree, this is fascinating reading.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

LINDBERGH: 75 YEARS ON. Exactly seventy-five years ago, Charles Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget Field near Paris to hysterical crowds. Today's Science Times recalls the historic flight and the mechanics behind The Spirit of St. Louis.
http://www.nytimes.com/

SOUNDS OF SCOTLAND. Four traditional folk selections from a number of Scottish bands. "Flower of Scotland" by the Corries is our favorite, but try them all.
http://www.webcraft.co.uk/

May 20, 2002:
IMMINENT THREATS? In the midst of its defensive posture over pre-9/11 warnings, the administration again warned that new attacks are a matter of when, not if. Vice President Cheney stressed the difficulty of tracking 100% of all dangers, citing Israel's inability to prevent suicide bombings completely, while FBI Director Mueller acknowledged that similar suicide bombings are likely to occur within our own borders.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/

REFORMING U.S. INTELLIGENCE. Needless to say, the furor over U.S. intelligence reached another boiling point this past weekend. In a recent report from the Cato Institute, a former top Central Intelligence Agency analyst prescribes his solutions to our intelligence shortcomings. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to access the full document.
http://www.cato.org/

INDIA VS. PAKISTAN? Again, the forgotten conflict. A frightening view of current tensions in South Asia, parts of which we must not forget remain a hotbed of terrorist planning.
http://www.economist.com/

R.I.P. STEPHEN JAY GOULD. One of the most renowned and controversial of evolutionary theorists, Harvard's Stephen Jay Gould, died today at the early age of 60. Gould was one of the "public intellectuals" that came under occasional criticism on this program for his non-science opinionating, but his contributions within the field were nevertheless substantial. This obituary recalls his life and career.
http://www.nytimes.com/

IRISH REBEL MUSIC. A selection of five rebel songs from a current Irish band. It may not be up to the level of the Clancy Brothers, but such songs as "The Rising of the Moon" still inspire.
http://www.eirefirst.com/

May 17, 2002:
MURAVCHIK ON HEARTS AND MINDS. Joshua Muravchik discussed Socialism on Extension 720 just last month. In the most recent issue of Commentary, he speaks out on the winning of hearts and minds in the war on terrorism.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/

THE CONTINUING BATTLE. Our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan still face perils. The difficulties in pursuing a "ghost-like" enemy--elusive, reluctant to fight in the open, and prone to hiding in foreign sanctuaries--resemble many of those we faced in fighting the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

THE FORGOTTEN WAR. India and Pakistan continue to spar--if low-level fighting between nuclear powers may be described as such. The New York Times, almost casually, included an article the other day titled simply "India Weighs Whether to Strike Pakistan". This region is usually overlooked, but the catastrophic events that could ripple from a nuclear showdown are difficult to overestimate. This revelation of an almost-encounter in 1999 from a former Clinton administration is enough to scare anyone.
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/

IF YOU LIKE KUBRICK...You'll probably enjoy this from one of his favorite's, Gy�rgy Ligeti, whose compositions were used in the haunting sequences of '2001' as well as in Kubrick's final film, 'Eyes Wide Shut'. Here's a sample from one of our greatest living composers.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 16, 2002:
THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER ATTACK. Revelations that the administration had at least a vague knowledge of possible al Queda hijacking plots have put the White House on the defensive. Two articles from our leading newspapers track the latest developments.
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

WOLFOWITZ AT BROOKINGS. A full transcript of Paul Wolfowitz's appearance at the Brookings Institution yesterday. The hardliner's views are always delivered forcefully, and carry substantial weight in the highest circles of power.
http://www.brookings.edu/

RUSSIA AND THE WEST, PART III. Two pre-summit columns fresh off the presses from The Economist that take a broader view of the new partnership between old rivals.
http://www.economist.com/1
http://www.economist.com/2

A NON-MUSICAL AUDIO SITE. Fascinating (and lengthy) excerpts from the Nixon White House Tapes. C-Span has done a terrific job compiling several of the most interesting, non-Watergate tapes. Listen especially to the recordings from June 1971, following publication of the Pentagon Papers.
http://www.c-span.org/

May 15, 2002:
THE CULTURE OF MARTYRDOM. A strong commentary in The Atlantic Monthly from David Brooks on the evolution of suicide bombing. It is notable that prior to the 1983 Beirut bombing, suicide bombings were exceedingly rare. What changed to make them so rife?
http://www.theatlantic.com/

PREVIEWING THE SUMMIT WITH RUSSIA. Two backgrounders, the first from the non-partisan Council on Foreign Relations, the second from the conservative Heritage Foundation, on the issues for next week's meetings in St. Petersberg. It won't have the publicity of the old U.S.-Soviet summits, but what happens may have a considerable impact.
http://www.cfr.org/
http://www.heritage.org/

IRAQ: THE INDIRECT APPROACH? Basil Liddell Hart coined "The Indirect Approach" to describe his military philosophy. In the case of U.S. policy toward Iraq, it might rather be described as war by other means. Military action may be likely, but other tracks, such as the restructuring of sanctions described here, will be used in an attempt to weaken Saddam.
http://www.economist.com/

SUPER G MEN. The FBI is proposing a "Super Squad" to combat international terrorism and strengthen U.S. intelligence-gathering. Is this a new innovative idea, or more of the same under a different name?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

SCIENTIFIC CELEBRITIES. Michael Shermer here on the cult of scientists, focusing specifically on the celebrity of Stephen Hawking.
http://www.sciam.com/

PACHELBEL. A brief, but moving version of one of the beautiful pieces in all classical music: Pachelbel's Canon in D.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 14, 2002:
JERUSALEM POST ON THE LIKUD VOTE. From the pages of The Jerusalem Post, an on-the-scene analysis of what happened at the recent Likud Party meeting, and how it will impact Sharon, and, more importantly, the peace process.
http://www.jpost.com/

THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA. Russia and its relationship with the West may not be the most stimulating of topics, but its importance is nevertheless substantial. A major arms reduction treaty has been concluded, President Bush will visit with Putin next week, and the role of Russia in the war on terrorism may have growing prominence. Three articles here examine the future of Russia and recent events in the news. Necessary reading for anyone interested in great power politics.
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.insightmag.com/
http://www.economist.com/

THE AMERICAN WAY OF WAR, PART III. The third and concluding essay in an Atlantic Monthly series: editor Michael Kelly on the evolution of American air power doctrine and effectiveness. This month's covers the lessons of the Gulf War through the Afghan campaign.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

THE PROPAGANDA WAR. An interesting piece from The New Republic on the p.r. battle for hearts and minds. Should we change our tactics? The TNR editors seem to think so...
http://www.tnr.com/

A FINE GREEK TENOR. Terzakis sings Franz Lehar--with some Penderecki thrown in.
http://www.terzakis.com/

May 13, 2002:
LIKUD REJECTS A PALESTINIAN STATE. Despite growing international consensus, including public calls from the United States, Israel's Likud Party has voted for a resolution never to allow the creation of a Palestinian state. Right or wrong, this will not help the peace process.
http://www.nytimes.com/

FORMER PRESIDENTS. Someone once asked, "Is there anything so pathetic as an ex-President?" Surely, such sentiment is false, but should former Chief Executives play anything but advisory roles for the sitting administration, regardless of era? Two articles here examine the issue, even as President Carter remains in Cuba.
http://www.usatoday.com/
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/

OUR AMERICAN HISTORY. From The Washington Post, more evidence of the general ignorance of American history in our schools. Take the survey and see how you do.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

CAMILLA SANDERS. A fair vocalist but she is backed by a fine jazz group. It's worth listening to.
http://www.camillasanders.com/

May 10, 2002:
THE BATTLE FOR (WORLD) PUBLIC OPINION. Mort Kondracke, who will be with us again in a few weeks, points out the deficiencies of U.S. public diplomacy in his most recent Roll Call column. He argues, rightfully, that if we are to win hearts and minds abroad, we have to change our tactics.
http://www.rollcall.com/

ATTA AND THE IRAQIS. A follow-up to our Edward Jay Epstein piece in yesterday's "File": William Safire's take on Mohamed Atta's mysterious visit to Prague last summer.
http://www.nytimes.com/

DEMOCRATIC ELECTION POLITICS. Two recent items on Democratic presidential politics from The New Republic. In the first, Senator John Edwards is taken down a peg or two. Anyone who saw his performance on last weekend's Meet the Press will have trouble disagreeeing with this column. In the second, the possibility of Senator John McCain running with the Dems in 2004 is discussed. We'll dissect national politics on Extension 720 this Tuesday with Elizabeth Drew and Jim Warren.
http://www.tnr.com/Edwards
http://www.tnr.com/McCain

REMEMBERING WINSTON. Exactly 62 years ago today, Winston Churchill became the British Prime Minister (the same day, in fact, that Hitler invaded Western Europe!). In another brilliant sweeping piece from The Atlantic Monthly, the great Englishman is recalled with columns from the ages.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

ANOTHER GREAT FLAMENCO PERFORMER. Milt loves his flamenco--and Camaron de los Islas is considered by many to be the leading contemporary interpreter of the art. Here he is recorded live at a concert in Paris.
http://www.flamenco-world.com/

May 9, 2002:
THE WORLD TODAY: A BRITISH PERSPECTIVE. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke at the Brookings Institution yesterday. Amidst all the anti-Americanism in European circles, it is helpful to hear from our trusted allies in the U.K.
http://www.brookings.edu/

NOT OVER? The battle in Afghanistan still rages, if at a lower intensity. Yet it has been all but overshadowed by the Middle East crisis. The New Republic here warns that we ignore Afghanistan at our peril.
http://www.tnr.com/

THE IRAQI CONNECTION. Edward Jay Epstein has a nose for conspiracy theories and a mixed record of accuracy in his investigations. Nevertheless, he is relentless and has uncovered a number of little-known facts over the years. Of all the rumors surrounding 9/11, one of the most persistent has been the supposed meeting between Mohamed Atta and a senior Iraqi intelligence official in Prague. Although several news organizations have tried to debunk such reports, the rumor continues to nag. Epstein here provides a solid summary of what we know to date.
http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/

THE CLONING DEBATE. This week's Economist, just out on the web, provides a useful guide to the debate over cloning. Look for our friend Leon Kass's name--he heads the president's advisory council on bioethics.
http://www.economist.com/

THE JOHNSON TREATMENT. Lyndon Johnson is back in the news. Tom Wicker of The New York Times here provides an entertaining remembrance. We will be re-airing our interview with Michael Beschloss on the Johnson White House tapes, and playing several of the actual recordings, tomorrow night beginning at 9:00pm.
http://www.nytimes.com/

MORE BEETHOVEN. This from John Lill and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, performed with great verve.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 8, 2002:
RESTRUCTURING PALESTINIAN SECURITY. Arafat has claimed that the Palestinian security forces are too feeble to prevent all terrorist activities originating in the West Bank. President Bush has duly dispatched CIA Director George Tenet to advise in the creation of a new security structure. Is Arafat's plea plausible?
http://www.washtimes.com/

CATHOLICISM THROUGH THE YEARS. The issues now facing the church have been under discussion for decades. Here is an invaluable collection from The Atlantic Monthly that collects several important commentaries on the church and its problems through the years--a collection that dates back over four decades.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

THE CREATION BY HAYDN. This magisterial work is performed brilliantly in a performance from the Haydn Festival of 1999.
http://www.gmn.com/

May 7, 2002:
WOLFOWITZ IN THE NEWS. Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz has been perhaps the most vocal advocate of removing Saddam Hussein forceably from Iraq, and a hardliner on the war in general. In a recent speech, he addressed the gap between the West and the Muslim world. Is it indeed a "Clash of Civilizations"?
http://www.defenselink.mil/

FINANCING TERRORISM. Links, reportedly, between the Saudi government and the funding of suicide bombers. A serious charge, to say the least, and one that should be viewed with the utmost gravity by our administration.
http://www.washtimes.com/

THE GRIM SEARCH FOR OSAMA. Grave searching continues in the Tora Bora region for the remains of Osama bin Laden and other senior members of al Quada. Nothing so far, but one can only imagine the surreality of this gruesome task.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/

ON THE TRAIL OF ALBERT EINSTEIN. An interesting piece in today's Science Times section about FBI surveillance of Albert Einstein. Though indisputably a brilliant physicist, was he involved in "highly suspicious" activities? Read on....
http://www.nytimes.com/

AND A FOLLOW-UP OF SORTS. Einstein contributed to the theory that led to the atomic bomb; Edward Teller was the father of the hydrogen bomb. At ninety-four years old, he has, incredibly, just published a volume of memoirs. This review essay from The New York Review of Books paints a fascinating picture.
http://www.nybooks.com/

A FINE RUSSIAN COLLECTION. Of the various pieces here, try especially the performance of Borodin's Polovtsian Dances.
http://www.ticketsofrussia.ru/

May 6, 2002:
BEYOND THE AXIS OF EVIL. John Bolton, Under Secretary of State, delivered an important speech at the Heritage Foundation about weapons of mass destruction and our efforts to combat their proliferation. The administration has been criticized from both left (for overblown rhetoric) and right (for insufficient diligence) over the "Axis of Evil" doctrine. This speech may be a step toward restructuring the admittedly vague idea.
http://www.heritage.org/

A BAD WEEKEND FOR THE FAR-RIGHT IN EUROPE. First, Chirac routed Le Pen, as expected, in the French run-off election. Then, the leader of the far-right in the Netherlands was assassinated. Still, they've been prominent in the news...
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/

REASSESSING HOMELAND SECURITY. Apparently, the Office of Homeland Security is being completely reviewed, with everything on the table. It may even be disbanded, just 7 months after its founding--or raised to a full, cabinet-level department as originally planned! What is going on here? Also below is an important look at the broad issues of homeland security as produced by the Brookings Institution--but take your time, as the full report is 182 pages long.
http://www.msnbc.com/
http://www.brookings.edu/

THE CARNIVAL OF VENICE. A brass performance masterpiece, as performed by Britain's esteemed Royal Academy of Music.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

May 3, 2002:
THE IRAQ DEBATE, CON'T. Again, the White House and State Department seem to be at odds over our Iraq policy. Should we be actively funding opposition groups as a precursor to our own action? Not everyone thinks so.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

PURSUING PEACE. The administration has called for a major international conference early this summer. The New York Times here provides details, though it seems like we've been through this before.
http://www.nytimes.com/

THE GREATEST NOVELIST OF ALL TIME? The Atlantic Monthly always offers incisive portraits of "great" individuals. This month, David Lodge, himself an accomplished 21st century novelist, examines the most famous of all 19th century authors.
http://www.theatlantic.com/

THE CHICAGO MAFIA. Two brief histories of the Chicago "Outfit". We'll be investigating much further next Wednesday on Extension 720 as Rick Kogan steps in for Milt to discuss this infamous but always colorful aspect in our city's history.
http://www.americanmafia.com/
http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/

RADIO TUNISIA. It does get to you in a rather hypnotic way through compulsive rythms and non-harmonic extended and repeated melodies. Give it a try.
http://www.radiotunis.com/

May 2, 2002:
FUKUYAMA ON THE FUTURE OF CONSERVATISM. Francis Fukuyama is best known for his "End of History" theory published just after the Cold War. Here, he looks at the possible demise of libertarianism. The libertarian drive for a truly "free" society, with an absolute minimum of government structure and interference, has been dealt a mortal blow by the events of 9/11 which, Fukuyama argues, remind us "why government exists."
http://www.opinionjournal.com/

THE FUTURE OF NATO. The Economist may be the best publication covering European affairs. Although the war on terrorism and the Middle East have dominated the news, the future of the North Atlantic alliance is indeed an important question in international security.
http://www.economist.com/

TNR ON THOMAS FRIEDMAN. Friedman is the best-known observer of Middle East affairs, and a regular columnist at The New York Times. The New Republic here offers its take on the "mother of all Middle East pundits."
http://www.tnr.com/

CLINTON VS. OPRAH? Is it possible that President Clinton, out of office just over a year, is pining for his own talk show? George Washington and Abraham Lincoln must be rolling over in their graves!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

RAJALAKSHMI WAS A GREAT PERFORMER OF CLASSICAL INDIAN MUSIC. Or so friends who know this tradition tell us. A little bit goes a long way but it is truly non-western.
http://www.carnaticsongs.com/

May 1, 2002:
THE 9/11 MANHUNT CONTINUES... The shadowy and elusive world of al Quada is sharply conveyed in today's New York Times. By simply counting the number of countries mentioned in this article, one realizes the incredible difficulty of tracking those responsible--and the enormous planning that went into the plot.
http://www.nytimes.com/

THE ESCAPE OF BIN LADEN? The Brookings Institution's Michael O'Hanlon has appeared on these pages before. A renowned defense analyst, he here analyzes the possibility raised two weeks ago that bin Laden and some important lieutenants may have escaped the U.S. military--though Rumsfeld continues to deny it.
http://www.brookings.edu/

SHERMER ON:.... Tomorrow, we will be re-airing our interview with Michael Shermer, the editor of Skeptic magazine and one of the world's leading commentators on "pseudo-science". Here's a link to his website, which contains several of his columns. See, in particular, his piece on Psychics and his debunking of Holocaust deniers.
http://www.skeptic.com/

A SCIENCE INTERLUDE. It would appear that we are nearing a mission (unmanned, of course) to the outer reaches of our solar system. Then, to the infinite and beyond?
http://www.sciam.com/

BERLIOZ TAKES ON ROMEO AND JULIETTE. The French genius makes the great story his own. Did you know that he did not play the piano and composed on the guitar?
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

Archive of Milt's File: