Is Castro Sick?

Today's Herald mentions what has been rumored for almost ten years in the streets of Miami - Fidel Castro may have Parkinson's. There seems to be enough evidence for the CIA to believe it. Quoted in the article is Brian Latell a Georgetown professor and the author of After Fidel an excellent book on the Castro brothers. Incidentally the title is somewhat misleading in the sense that it speaks very little of a post-Castro Cuba. "After Fidel" refers to Raul and his life living in his brother's shadow and the author's pursuit of Fidel.

Chirac as Jimmy Carter

President Jacques Chirac said yesterday that more than two weeks of violence in the poor suburbs of France is the sign of a "profound malaise" and ordered measures to reach out to the angry rioters.

In defense of former President Carter - trust me this is the first and only time I will defend him - he never actually used the word "malaise."

ComingAnarchy.com and Beer

Maybe all this football is making silly but everytime I see those Guinness Beer ads I think of Curzon, Chirol and Younghusband. We know that they are in fact BRILLIANT!, but there has to be more to it than that. Maybe it's the whiskers? If anyone has any suggestions for a cominganarchy drinking game please let me know. I'm thinking along the lines of taking a shot each time Robert Kaplan's name is mentioned and two shots for every word invented that includes Kaplan's name. We should also shout out, "BRILLIANT!" after taking our Kaplan shots.

Battered Bush Goes East

I'm watching Monday Night Football as I write this (my definition of multitasking) and was amused by a Philly fan holding a sign that read "It's not easy being green." Alas it may not be easy being a frog (and no I'm not talking about the French) or being a Philly fan but at least you aren't W. Let's face it W has it rough.

CNN is talking up new polls showing that he has hit a record low in public approval. TNR is piling on referring to the Summit of the Americas as more like a nadir and another piece proclaiming W's Veteran's Day speech as the worst of his presidency. CSM says things are bound to go better during W's Far East trip if for no other reason that Hugo Chavez won't be there. They do note that S. Korea might be difficult. I have a solution - get off the plane announce that all American troops in Korea will be home by Christmas get back on the plane and leave.

Old Habits are Hard to Break

"Stop the Violence," read one banner draped on the Wall of Peace near the Eiffel Tower. Some of the 200 demonstrators--a small turnout in protest-friendly France--waved white flags.

From an AP dispatch. Hat tip Opinion Journal.

Remembering Drucker

Opinion Journal remembers Peter Drucker by compiling memorable excerpts from his op-eds for WSJ.

Globalization of Political Crimes

Alvaro Vargas Llosa applauds the arrest of Alberto Fujimori in Chile. He neglects to mention that Fujimori literally forced Vargas Llosa into exile. He also takes a shot at Toledo's government (again) failing to disclose his infamous about face on the Peruvian Prez that resulted in an odd internal exile that he has yet to fully explain. Let's not nitpick it is an interesting piece on how globalization has produced an unexpected benefit - the long arm of the law. States are more willing to take on deposed leaders for crimes they committed while in power. I too am thrilled to see deposed despots but have long felt a certain ambivalence toward this trend.

Assume that you are a tyrant at the end of the line. The US is hassling you, the UN is on your ass and even the French aren't taking your calls. You realize that this isn't really worth it anymore. It is time to move on and go to a Brazilian beach with the billions you stole. Then you wonder, "Will they do me like they did Augosto?" You are perceived to be a right wing despot so you can't help but fret that Balthasar Garzon is getting his papers in order. He knows that your time is running up and now he is going to hound you until you are either dead or infirm. Maybe it would make more sense just to stick around and see what happens.

I find it odd that states get all tough on former tyrants. While these presidents for life are in power these very same states either sit on their hands or offer them up to lend assistance. Garzon's own party is Fidel Castro's greatest facilitator. How about going after tyrants while they are still doing damage as opposed to waiting until they have already destroyed a country? By the way a CFR study published two years ago raised some concerns about this trend aswell.

Talabanni Speaks on US Troop Pullout, Again

It appears that Iraqi Prez Talabani has left his White House talking points memo at home again. You may recall that during his US visit in Septmember he veered from W's stance on troops in Iraq and said that they could start coming home this year. He clarified his comments the day after but now he is talking about reaching an agreement by the end of next year to send all the troops home.