The Least of All Possible Evils: Humanitarian Violence from Arendt to Gaza                                       by Eyal Weizman            Verso Press, 2012, 208pp., $26.95 Violence is a basic fact of international relations. It is the […]

The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was the biggest story of this week. In response to international confusion about America’s reticence to criticize Israel, we had this to say: For many people around the world, this seems patently obvious: Israel has a right to respond to attacks from […]

A brief wave of enthusiasm was felt around the web yesterday at the news that House Republicans were considering a push for a thoroughgoing reform of copyright law, with everyone from Glenn Reynolds to Cory Doctorow to Stewart Baker heralding this as both smart politics and the right thing to do. Some snippets from the […]

Like many similar trendy tech neologisms in recent history, ‘cyberwar’ as a concept may be getting overloaded to the point of meaninglessness. The mere inclusion of the tired “cyber-” prefix all but seals the term’s eventual fate. The word feels dated out of the gate.But it doesn’t mean it’s completely useless. Warmaking—if done right—is done […]

Via Meadia is hiring!We are pleased to announce that Via Meadia is looking for three new staff writer positions: a senior writer and two junior writers. All would likely be relatively recent college grads; the “senior” writer would have some experience and expertise in important domestic policy issues that Via Meadia follows — or intends to follow as we expand […]

One likely result of the Gaza War: a boom in missile defense that will probably make a lot of money for some Israeli and American companies. Israel’s impressive Iron Dome system is really shining: By late Friday, the system had intercepted a total of 184 rockets in recent days, 99 of them on Friday alone, […]

Yet another state is preparing for a major hit by the pension storm. Oregon’s pension fund for public employees is now in a $16 billion hole caused by the failure of its investments to come anywhere close to the 8 percent rate of return the state was predicting. Now lawmakers are forced to choose between contributing billions of taxpayer […]

As Israeli airstrikes and naval shells bombarded Gaza this weekend, the world asked the question that perennially frustrates, confuses and enrages so many people across the planet: Why aren’t the Americans hating on Israel more?As in Operation Cast Lead, the last big conflict between Israel and Hamas, and as during the operation against Hezbollah in […]

On today’s date in 1558, Mary I of England died, and her half-sister the Princess Elizabeth succeeded her as Queen. Elizabeth would reign almost 45 years and change the world. Americans should think of her as our Founding Mother; although Sir Walter Raleigh’s attempt at a colony failed, from her reign on the English planned […]

The Obama Administration continued a full diplomatic offensive this week in Asia.Just days after the election, nearly all of America’s top foreign policy officials are visiting countries in the Asia-Pacific region in an unprecedented display of commitment. Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Panetta have both been in Australia this week and are expected to travel to […]