FRANCE DIDN’T GIVE PASSPORTS TO IRAQI OFFICIALS: This has the ring of truth to me (you can probably guess that I am not generally a Nation fan), and if true it’s a very big deal. Read more

PRO-LIFE READING LIST: A little while ago, The Rat asked if I had any ideas about what people should read if they want to understand the pro-life position and see the best possible case(s) for it. She had three suggestions, which reflect the way she became pro-life: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov. This book hammers home the reality of tragedy. I agree with Ratty that the abortion-rights position is often motivated by a reluctance to accept the existence of tragic... Read more

I don’t mind you coming here Watching all my blogs… As before, I’ll just link to the main site for Blogspot pages. I know, I know, but I don’t have the time to figure out how to move off Blogspot, so here I am…. Balkinization: Basic post on WMDs, but gets the job done. L. Solum continues his defense of Really Really Strong Stare Decisis. I haven’t had time to read this yet but it is doubtless worth reading. I... Read more

“‘The water is not to be trusted, and you will find no Coca-Cola now that the Americans have moved out. At night when you hear the shooting in the streets you will think perhaps that a strong glass of rum…’ “‘Not rum,’ Mrs. Smith said. “‘Shooting?’ Mr. Smith enquired. ‘Is there shooting?’ He looked at his wife where she sat crouched under the travelling-rug (she was not warm enough even in the stuffy cabin) with a trace of anxiety. ‘Why... Read more

OXBLOGGING on the Aqaba talks (Sharon + Abu Mazen) and Charles Taylor. If those links are broken, go here and scroll to “Chutzpah Watch” and “Sheikh It Up Baby, Now”–the scrolling is worth it. Read more

A HECTIC DAY. More bloggage tomorrow, including a pro-life reading list. Read more

LAST NIGHT I watched the first “X-Men” movie. I was wrong. Everyone else in the whole world was right. “X2” is better. There were some very nice moments in “X-Men” (esp. when they get to Liberty Island), but in general the actors don’t inhabit their characters nearly as much as they do in the sequel. (Also, I’d forgotten how cliched Rogue’s position in the narrative is–they might as well have used a cardboard cutout labeled “Damsel In Distress, this way... Read more

CONFIRMATION WARS AND OTHER LAW STUFF: Well, Lawrence Solum has moved on from confirmation wars to defending really really strong stare decisis (no, that is not an inflammation–at least not always!–it’s a jurisprudential doctrine). Solum’s a very smart guy and a fun writer, and in general his site rocks. But I think some of what he says about stare decisis is off-base. Two issues: stability as the “primary purpose” of the judiciary–as long as we’re going for “primary purpose” I’d... Read more

IF I COULD FIX MY TEMPLATE, I’d put AfricaPundit under “Daily Stops.” Read more

LIBERIAN DICTATOR CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES. No duh, huh? But they haven’t got him behind bars yet. Taylor’s Al Qaeda ties. If you’re wondering where you heard that name, think “Sierra Leone war,” then think “rape,” then think “cutting off people’s arms.” There you go. That’s the one. Read more