World

Matt Yglesias writes:              People often note that there appears to be a more vigorous debate over Israel’s approach to the Israeli-Arab conflict in the mainstream Israeli press than there is in the mainstream American press. This is, however, the kind of judgment that it’s hard for a casual American observer to make with much confidence. Writing in International Security, however, Jerome Slater takes a more systematic comparison of coverage of the conflict in The New York Times and in Haaretz and concludes that, indeed, Israelis debate this matter more freely. To which Megan responds: 1)  No one in Israel is worried about being called anti-semitic. 2)

Reading this post from James Poulos left me wondering: What would happen if a US state decided to leave the Union? Would they be permitted to do so? How would you go about seceding anyway? Would it be legal to do so? What would be the consequences? Bonus questions: Which state would be most likely to seek to secede? And upon what grounds? 

This week’s Spectator Intelligence Squared debate about whether we shouldn’t be reluctant to assert the superiorty of Western values is an absolute cracker. To listen to David Aaronovitch, Tariq Ramadan, Ibn Warraq, Charles Glass, Douglas Murray and William Dalrymple tackle this question click here.

So, yes, the bloody New York Yankees came a cropper. Smirk all you like. They remain my American League peeps. It is, as I explain, all Dubya’s fault. Give me death before you give me more Boston gloating…

Stephen Fry has a blog? Ye gods, whatever next? That said, he may not have quite mastered either the brevity or the frequency elements of the gig. Still, absorbing stuff. Or something.  Certainly it ain’t your average celeb-blog. What may be the world’s longest post on Smartphones ever written by a Cambridge Footlight, concludes: As the General Confession in the Book of Common Prayer has it, “I have followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart.” Amen. Then there’s a lengthy – but very warm and very wise –  rumination on fame which, well, you’ll just have to read for yourself. But here’s a fun story: I’ll

I’m not quite so pessimistic as Kurt Anderson here, but he does get to the guts of why politics in America can be so wearying these days: Almost any argument about race, gender, Israel, or the war is now apt to be infected by a spirit of self-righteous grievance and demonization. Passionate disagreement isn’t sufficient; bad faith must be imputed to one’s opponents: skepticism of affirmative action equals racism, antiwar sentiment equals anti-Americanism (or terrorist sympathy), criticism of Israel is by definition anti-Semitic, and so on. More and more people think they’re entitled to the right not just to ignore or disapprove, but to veto and banish. And the craven

Bugger. Time to go and talk the game over with Mr John Walker and Mr Macallan. Mr Bruichladdich may also be asked his opinion. I’d consult Mr Highland Park but he’s exhausted.

Sunday Am shattered from lugging huge bag of policies around. Felt like asking Mr Gove what exactly he’d put in his blasted School Reforms, but just about controlled self. Plus, the poor girls working for Gids are having to cope with a Mulberry hold-all each of tax cuts so I suppose I shouldn’t complain. Anyway, was already tired and emotional when Mrs May got up on stage in her leopard-patterned wellies. As if it’s not bad enough that I’ve forgotten to pack my London Sole sequinned ballet pumps, I now have to go rummaging around Blackpool for designer wellingtons. I simply couldn’t be more stressed. Am also v worried about