Avatar photoWriting on the Wall

You know who tries to deter cyber-attacks with nuclear weapons?  North Korea, that’s who. North Korea released a statement that Kim Jong Il had “ratified the plan of the Strategic Rocket Force for firepower strike” against “the U.S. mainland, their stronghold, their military bases in the operational theaters in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam…” …

Avatar photoPierre Noir, Again

About a year ago, I wrote about the case of Pierre Noir, the first IAEA inspector to die on the job.  Noir died of a heart attack while inspecting a nuclear reactor in Taiwan on January 30, 1978.  I am teaching that episode in class today. Last year, I was able to hunt down — …

Avatar photoShow and TEL

The most rewarding aspect of the Monterey Institute is the students.  Okay, it’s the weather.  But the students are a close second. We have, for instance, an embarrassment of Chinese-speaking graduate students.  One of our best, Jonathan Ray, has been staring at Chinese social media sites.  While most young Chinese men largely surf for smut, …

Avatar photoWMD-Day + 10

President James K. Polk’s war of choice against Mexico from 1846-48 resulted in the acquisition of what became the states of California, Utah and Nevada, as well as parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. Mexico received $15 million in compensation and gave up its claim on Texas. In this war, the United States …