Sitemap - 2025 - Trenchant Observations

[REVISED AND UPDATED] Israel-Iran war: Let us all remember the U.N. Charter and international law--With a link to an authoritative analysis of the legal arguments

[UPDATED] Israel-Iran war: Let us all remember the U.N. Charter and international law--With a link to an authoritative analysis of the legal arguments

Should the U.S. join Israel in bombing Iran? The timing is off.

[FINAL CORRECTIONS] Trump's stampede to war

[CORRECTED 2]Trump's stampede to war

[CORRECTED TYPO] Trump's stampede to war

[CORRECTED] Trump's stampede to war

Trump should not join Netanyahu in attacking Iran if he wants to play at international golf courses in his retirement

Israel-Iran War: International Law and the Dilemma of the Undesirable Regime

[UPDATED] Israel-Iran war: Let us all remember the United Nations Charter and international law

Israel-Iran war: Let us all remember the United Nations Charter and international law [CORRECTED]

Trump's coup d'état: A Framework of Inquiry (REPRISE from June 6, 2020), with commentary on where we sre today

To judge Trump, ask yourself but one question: "What is the meaning of life?" [CORRECTED]

To judge Trump, ask yourself but one question: "What is the meaning of life?"

A new media order is emerging

REPRISE AND UPDATE: Are Trump's tariffs legal? With link to U.S. Court of International Trade decision of May 28, 2025, holding Trump tariffs illegal

Connecting the dots: Trump's attack on knowledge, and the passive citizens and legislators who won't do anything to stop it.

Right v. Wrong, and Good v. Evil. Let us act on our beliefs, today and every day.

Our current path and the crossroads we face: Barbarism versus Civilization

Leading conservative judge, J. Michael Luttig, delivers magisterial indictment of Donald Trump's assault on the Rule of Law

[REVISED] Ukraine ceasefire; Russian asset Trump undercuts Europeans' ceasefire proposal and deadline

Ukraine ceasefire; Russian asset Trump undercuts Europeans' ceasefire proposal and deadline

Contribute to the Restore American Democracy Fund -- Support Engaged Writers

So where do we go from here?

Donald Trump is an evil president who must be impeached and removed from office as soon as possible

Russia and Ukraine: The minerals deal and outlook

[RESENT] The enemies of God: Ukraine, the Constitution, and the defense of fundamental values

The enemies of God: Ukraine, the Constitution, and the defense of fundamental values

[CORRECTED DRAFT] Ukraine and the Constitution: The defense of fundamental values

REPRISE: America as a police state

[UPDATED 4-22-25] Shutting Down the Voice of America-Not so fast says court, issuing TRO -- with personal anecdotes

(Revised) Ukraine Ceasefire "Negotiations": Trump says Russia has made a "pretty big concession" by not taking all of Ukraine

Ceasefire "negotiations": Trump says Russia has made a "pretty big concession" by not taking all of Ukraine

[UPDATED] Russian asset Donald Trump proposes recognizing Crimea, lifting sanctions against Russia

European parochialism in speaking about international security weakens Ukraine. Newsflash: Trump says Russia's big concession is it won't seize all of Ukraine

[UPDATED] Russian asset Donald Trump proposes recognizing Crimea, lifting sanctions against Russia

Russian asset Donald Trump proposes recognizing Crimea, lifting sanctions against Russia

REPRISE: "IMPEACHMENT" -- the word nobody can say

The Agency for International Development: “Soft Power” that has advanced U.S. interests--a vignette from personal experience

El Salvador is holding Abrego García in violation of international law and binding provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights

[REVISED] Harvard stands up to Trump. The university's motto is "Veritas" (Truth). Will Truth prevail, or fascism?

Harvard stands up to Trump. The university's motto is "Veritas" (Truth). Will Truth prevail, or fascism?

From the Author's Desk: Does anyone care?

Trump’s illegal use of emergency powers to circumvent the Constitution and the law

Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump: Three war criminals attacking three pillars of the international rule of law

The Best of the Worst Contest winner: "The Signal chat’s big takeaway? Trump has built an effective team.”

"IMPEACHMENT" -- the word nobody can say

Who are these men who gleefully carry out the orders of Trump?

America as a police state

APRIL FOOL! Putin to withdraw all Russian troops from Ukraine, following religious epiphany

Putin to withdraw all Russian troops from Ukraine, following religious epiphany

What other chats or communications did our National Security officials conduct on Signal or other unsecure platforms?

El Salvador’s Prisons are Our Prisons

Evening Thoughts (to all)

Evening Thoughts

REPRISE: SATIRE--Leaked transcript of private two-hour conversation between Putin and Trump in Helsinki in 2018

(Advance copy of draft) Shutting Down U.S.A.I.D. and the Voice of America: Real World Consequences, and the Author's Experiences--PART TWO (U.S. Agency for International Development)

[UPDATED] Shutting Down U.S.A.I.D. and the Voice of America: Real World Consequences, and the Author's Experiences--PART ONE

[CORRECTED] Shutting Down U.S.A.I.D. and the Voice of America: Real World Consequences, and the Author's Experiences

Shutting Down U.S.A.I.D. and the Voice of America: Real World Consequences, and the Author's Experiences

[CORRECTED] The lawless Trump regime, a stupid bully, pressures Ukraine for an illegal ceasefire

The lawless Trump regime, a stupid bully, pressures Ukraine for an illegal ceasefire

Published by mistake: "Friday reflections"

The challenges we face

(UPDATED) Ukraine: Putin's Puppets swing into action: Donald Trump cuts off U.S. intelligence, military aid, and blocks Ukrainian access to commercially-available satellite imagery

The Best of the Worst” Contest--op-eds and actions reported in the press

Now everyone knows the truth: Trump and Vance are Russian puppets

Is there a traitor in the White House?

Donald Trump, Russian stooge, channels Putin in the White House; When will Republicans defend the country?

SURPRISE: Trump, “a Russian asset”, capitulates to Putin; Republican legislators refuse to defend U.S. National Security

Malcolm Nance: "WARNING! We Are in a National Security Emergency" (with link to must-see podcast)

Cognitive Occlusion: Leaders, unable to face the reality of Russian aggression and barbarism in Ukraine, negotiate post-ceasefire arrangements among themselves-when there's not going to be a ceasefire

REVISED: Will Americans Wake Up Before It's Too Late?

Will Americans Wake Up Before It's Too Late?

REPRISE (with commentary): The Stakes in the 2024 Elections (October 20, 2024)

Trump begins sell-out of Ukraine, following Putin's script

American Bar Association president criticizes Trump for not following the Rule of Law; Major media fail to cover the story

There is only one solution to wrecking-ball crazy: Remove Trump

With so many people falling to their deaths, Russia needs to improve its window design

OVERVIEW (Updated): The U.S. attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Let’s celebrate: Adolf Hitler has built a first-rate system of highways–the Autobahn

REPRISE: The Normalization of the Unforgivable -- Trump and an America which is already half lost (May 24, 2017)

Timothy Snyder: “Of course it’s a coup”; Gaza as a distraction from Musk’s illegal takeover of the executive branch

REPRISE: June 6, 2020--Trump's coup d'état: A Framework of Inquiry

A lawless government seeks to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

What can we do?

UPDATE: Are Trump's tariffs legal?

The Permanent News: The historical context

Is it too soon to speak of removing 47? REVISED

When the world is turned upside down

UDATED WITH AUTHOR'S COMMENT ON MUSK'S NAZI SALUTE: Building the Techno-Fascist state? Elon Musk takes sole control of the Orwellian Department of Government Efficiency

Building the Techno-Fascist state? Elon Musk takes sole control of the Orwellian Department of Government Efficiency

UPDATED: Trump opens highly sensitive intelligence to anyone he wants, bypassing existing security clearance procedures

Trump opens highly sensitive intelligence to anyone he wants, bypassing existing security clearance procedures

Trump's pardons: The legitimization of political violence

Amid distractions, a need to focus on Trump's pro-Russian appointments (at both top and lower levels), and actions to further Russia's interests

The decay of the U.N. Charter-based international legal order points to increasing anarchy and war

Techno-Fascism in Trumpworld: Let me out of here! (Short Version)

Techno-Fascism in Trumpworld: Let me out of here!

Trump snubs President of European Commission, invites Xi Jinping to Inauguration; recalls similar 2017 insult to NATO

What if Ukraine loses the war against Russia?

REPRISE: Forget bipartisanship. The task before us is to extirpate the fascist threat, and to defeat all the fascists

REPRISE: Compromise Fundamental Values to work with fascists? NEVER!

REPRISE: Appointments: The United States becomes a Banana Republic under Trump (2017)--with current commentary

David Ignatius’ panegyric to Jake Sullivan. Hagiography devoid of criticism, which could have been written by Sullivan himself