Mixing in some foreign policy links today
- From Texas in Africa, a interesting post about the conflict minerals provision in the FinReg bill. The provision is intended to cut off or at least decrease the money that combatants in the Congo derive from the illegal mineral trade, what many NGO's argue is at the heart of the conflict. The blog argues that the mineral trade is not the cause, or at least a small part of it. She argues local property and citizenship issues are more important causes. Worth browsing the blog to get some background on East Africa.
- Nice post from Digby on Modern Day Hooverism. This is one of those things that drives me absolutely up the wall. Hoovers and Mellons response to the Depression was an utter catastrophe. Emulating it is even more of a tragedy, since we know what happened and why. Even Milton Friedman recognized this. I still maintain that the adoption of Ayn Rand's batshit insane economic philosophy by conservaties and libertarians was one of the worst things that ever happened to this country. And by the way, when are these Ranidan douchebags going to go Galt? I'll be happy to drive any one of you to the bus station or the airport. No really, get in your Mercedes or your BMW and drive the f*** away. Write when you get work...
- A sobering guest column in Best Defense on post deployment military suicides
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