In 1984, historian Barbara Tuchman wrote The March of Folly; From Troy to Vietnam, including four examples of folly which she defined as 'Pursuit of Policy Contrary to Self-Interest.'

It is now ten years since the event that precipitated what is likely to be America's most enduring folly: the Afghanistan War. The Vietnam War cost the United Stated ( Read more... )

Last week, Wisconsin Circuit Judge Sumi issued an order to the Wisconsin Secretary of State not to publish the collective bargaining bill that has had half of Wisconsin marching through the streets of Madison and the other half shouting epithets at them. Publishing a bill is the last step before the the bill becomes law, and, as written into the ( Read more... )

The Coast Guard is searching for a man swept out to sea in Northern California while taking pictures of tsunami waves.

Nearby, authorities in Brookings, Ore., say four people have survived after a tsunami surge swept them off a beach in Curry County and into the sea.

The five were on the beach Friday to watch the waves generated by a massive ( Read more... )

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Princess Bride came out in 1987.

“Any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should 'have his head examined,'...

-- Secretary Robert Gates addressing West Point Cadets recently

This year, the United States will spend at least $700 billion on defense and security. Adjusting for inflation, that's more than America has spent on defense in any year since World War II -- more than during the Korean war, the Vietnam war, or the Reagan military buildup. Much of that enormous sum results from spending increases under presidents ( Read more... )