The other day, my dear wife asked me innocently “Do you have any resolutions for this new year?” I groused at the idea saying, “My only resolution this year is to get to next year.” It was a rude brush off. But the last two years have felt rude. In 2020, we saw COVID-19 Read more…
Recently I lost something. I say lost because I’m not sure where it is. I’ve looked and retraced my steps several times and just cannot find it. It’s both valuable and sentimental. It’s distressing that I can’t find it. Yet I’m finding this loss is somewhat instructive as I occasionally disengage from a busy workday Read more…
I’m not a supporter of what is now known as “cancel culture,” whereby individuals and groups advocate boycotting or withdrawing support from those they regard as saying things they find offensive. This phenomenon is self-righteous and fundamentally anti-intellectual. The former is evident. The latter may need a bit of exploration. The cancel culture Read more…
In national security matters, it is vital that America is clear and not pusillanimous. That’s a big word for “gutless.” Strength and clarity must be what defines our diplomatic affairs. To be sure, diplomacy requires a deft hand applied to direct and guide our national security actions while avoiding the popular political themes Read more…
I’m taking a break this week to catch up on revising the final draft of my next book. Writing a book is no small effort and it requires patience and focus to get it right. This week I received very positive peer reviews on my latest work—the U.S. role in UN Middle Read more…
It’s Thanksgiving Day. This is a time when many of us are focused on family and food. But we should not let the day pass without contemplating our many blessings, including our family and friends. In our case we have five wonderful grandchildren who are all a delight. They are, as we like Read more…
The latest rendition of the culture wars now includes a term that characterizes what it means to be “woke.” What does that mean? Well, if you accept popular expressions of being “woke,” you might agree with the Urban Dictionary’s version. Specifically, being woke means “being aware and knowing what’s going on in the community” Read more…
Today is Veterans Day. It’s not Memorial Day, when we remember our fallen, as a nation should for all time. When it fails to, it ceases to be a nation. Today instead we honor veterans, the ones who came home. I am one of those fortunate people. I served with Read more…
Last week I was at our river place—pronounced “riv’ah if you hail from Virginia’s Northern Neck—when a nor’easter struck with a vengeance. I stood by watching helplessly as the waves and wind whipsawed our pier, tearing away most of its decking, tossing it into the waiting swells of the Potomac River. The Read more…
The nation’s eyes are on Virginia. It shouldn’t surprise anyone since only Virginia and New Jersey have gubernatorial elections this year. Moreover, the nation has been bitterly divided over political and culture war issues that have dominated in recent years, particularly those of the far-left’s “woke” agenda. In my years as Read more…