Dateline: Gate 21, TF Green Airport, Warwick RI, 1 June 2004
Up in Chicago at 4am and my son Kevin and I fly SWA to BWI and then to Providence. Run K-man to school and then bolt home for 90 minutes on the PC, getting my mega-brief ready for the Beeg Shoe at National Defense University tomorrow morning on CSPAN (taped for later in the month—prime time!). Then I’m back in my Honda to Providence airport and a huge flight delay.
But the brief is ready, and according to my hosts, the crowd will be hungry tomorrow. The only bitch is that NDU’s military lawyers have banned the sale of my book on the premises. If I had done the normal thing and published 5,000 copies via NDU (or through the government), it would be okay to sell the book on a “military reservation.” Why? I wouldn’t have made any money.
That’s my essential problem: you’re not supposed to write popular books that occasionally top out at #6 rankings on Amazon. You’re only supposed to preach to the choir itself.
Damn my capitalist tendencies! You’d think all those years of studying Marxism at Harvard would have stuck!
Here's my Catch and Commentary over the last several days:
"Offering aid to Haiti, Marines extend stay: U.S. troops have already airlifted 100,000 pounds of food, water,” by wire services, USA Today, 1 June, p. 4A.
Administering the system quietly in Haiti“Sun Alters Its Pricing Strategy For Sales to Developing Nations,” by John Markoff, New York Times, 1 June, p. C2.
Sun: to each priced by population and development“Liberian Ruler Can Be Tried, Court Rules," by Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 1 June, p. A7.
Another brick in the wall of the A-to-Z system“A Plea for Enlightened Moderation: Muslims must raise themselves up through individual achievement and socioeconomic emancipation,” by Pervez Musharraf, Washington Post, 1 June, p. A23.
Pakistan asks, “Can’t we all just get along?”“Cash crunch curbs rebuilding in Iraq: Jobless rate stuck near 30% as businesses seek capital,” by David J. Lynch, USA, 1 June, p. 1B.
“Some Seek Date for U.S. Troops to Exit Iraq,” by Peter Slevin, WP, 1 June, p. A20.
The real failure in Iraq: the FDI has not flowed“Saudis Suffer Fresh Terrorist Attack: Assault Takes Lives of 22; Some Westerners Leave, But Oil’s Flow Still Steady,” by Hugh Pope and Chip Cummins, Wall Street Journal, 1 June, p. A3.
“Saudis act to ease concerns after terror attack: Officials search for al-Qaeda militants,” by staff and wire services, USA, 1 June, p. 5A.
The Saudis as bit players in their own 9/11s“Inexpensive Chinese cars on way soon? Hurdles remain to importing vehicles as cheap as $9,000,” by Earle Eldridge, USA, 1 June, p. 3B.
“Chinas Opens Retail to Foreign Investors,” by Leslie Change, WSJ, 1 June, p. A2.
“U.S. Firm to Control Chinese Bank: Newbridge Buys 18% Of Shenzhen Shares,” by Peter S. Goodman, WP, 1 June, p. E1.
“China Sees Success in Taming Growth: Senior Official Says Prices Of Commodities Are Easing. Investment in Toning Down,” by Kathy Chen and Constance Mitchell-Ford, WSJ, 1 June, p. A15.
“The Most Populous Nation Faces a Population Crisis,” by Joseph Kahn, NYT, 30 May, p. WK1.
“Asia’s Tigers Are Back, With More Muscle,” by George Melloan, WSJ, 1 June, p. A17.
China huffs and it puffs, hoping its house won’t blow down
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