The Party Is Over

The biggest political news out of Israel in a few years: Ariel Sharon is quitting the party he helped establish. Israeli politics is pretty fractious, and Sharon created the Likud Party back in the 1970's by splitting from Labor, but this marks the first time a party is being established for the purpose of dealing with the Palestinian question. Sharon's new look, "National Responsibility", will try to be centrist on internal questions (government spending, religious affairs), and push forward Sharon's vision of a final settlement between Israel and Palestine. Of course, Sharon is not quite an objective observer, and as an old-fashioned Realpolitiker, he's not ashamed to use Israel's overwhelming military and economic power to achieve a highly advantageous settlement. Whether he can do so in a way that leaves Palestinians with enough that they will be able to build some kind of state remains to be seen.

NY Times Editorials: Follow the Men in Blue

Since NYTimes.com began forcing readers to pay to read their opinions (a penny for our thoughts, please?), readership has gone way, way down. And so, apparently, has quality. Today's editorials, judging from their titles, are coordinated, and not, by my analysis, on the highest of topics. I quote: EDITORIALS OP/ED: Krugman: Deadly Donut Friedman: Forgotten Center That's right folks: don't overlook the downtrodden donut holes.

Al-Qaeda Hates Arabs

Al-Qaeda lieutenant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has struck again at the country that once imprisoned him, according to Jordanian and American officials. The bombings at tourist hotels in Amman today killed mainly Arabs - once again, al-Qaeda has it in for those whom they claim to protect. Apologists for al-Qaeda would argue that by hitting American-owned hotels frequented by businessmen and tourists (who are still mostly Arabs) is as close as they can get to hitting America and Israel, their alleged enemies. That might be believable from a local gang of hooligans, but is al-Qaeda really so afraid of "Crusader" security forces that they can't operate in the West? Jordan, after all, has a very good track record of stopping terrorists; this isn't like blowing up yet another street in Baghdad. So the terrorists, al-Qaeda or otherwise, really want to attack Jordan. Why? Because Jordan is a Western ally. Because Jordan is at peace with all its neighbors (most of whom al-Qaeda is at war with). Because Jordan is showing that a non-oil economy can flourish by allowing for free trade with the West. Because Jordan allows women and Palestinian refugees to participate in public life. If al-Qaeda were really interested in using violence to forward the Palestinian cause or to annihilate the West, they would attack Israeli and Western military and civilian targets. Instead, they never touch Israel, and they're already sorry they touched America, and they're now fighting a war of attrition, hoping that we will give up and let them press their unsavory goals forward with yet more violence against fellow Arabs. It's no secret among those who study such things that the real goal of al-Qaeda is to displace the Saudi and other Arab governments - neither Arabs nor Westerners should believe the propaganda that they disseminate to disguise that goal.

Halloween Photos

I won't actually post these here, because they are easily accessible on Karen's page, but check out photos from our department Halloween party, hosted by Professor Steven Landsburg. Some highlights: Jose and Jessica won the most creative costume award - if you can't guess their costumes, here's a hint: we made them twist to "You Never Can Tell" when they received the award. My friend Steve has no dignity. The dark teeth aren't part of James' costume... he just really likes red wine. And if you can figure out my costume, then you're a real econ-nerd (only two people did). But it paid off... my math prof said that dressing up as the Envelope Theorem was worth a point or two on the midterm.