Author Archives: Tony

Toasting God’s Terrorism and Other Passover Themes

Posted on April 11, 2006 by Tony

1. Passover is About Liberation; Not Simply About Jews In that hungry eternity of singing and praying in an alien tongue that spanned from your first taste of haroset on matzoh to the arrival of the matzoh ball soup, you … Continue reading →

Posted in A Wondering Jew, Situation Report | 21 Comments

Win-Win Solution on Immigration and Empire

Posted on April 6, 2006 by Tony

Rather than British ground troops, Britain relied on an 80-percent Indian force to police Iraq. And when that couldn’t do the trick, the Royal Air Force pioneered the art of dropping bombs on population-centers Far be it from me to … Continue reading →

Posted in 99c Blogging | 10 Comments

Why Germany Won’t Win the World Cup

Posted on April 5, 2006 by Tony

Mourinho’s white flag: Robert Huth 1. They’re too home-based Most of the world’s best footballers earn their living in one of three domestic leagues: Spain’s La Liga; Italy’s Seria A; and the English Premiership. In other words, Germany’s Bundesliga is … Continue reading →

Posted in Glancing Headers | 8 Comments

Ten Reasons Why Oslo Failed

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Tony

I recently found this piece I wrote for TIME.com in October of 2000, trying to come to grips with the reasons for the failure of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. This was two months after Camp David, just as the Israelis … Continue reading →

Posted in From Tony's Archive | 8 Comments

Fit to Print? The NY Times on Iraq

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Tony

Abdul Mahdi good; Jaafari bad, says the paper of record. They should know Sometimes, it’s hard to read the New York Times on Iraq without laughing out loud on the subway. First, there was Sunday’s editorial, which blithely parroted the … Continue reading →

Posted in 99c Blogging | 7 Comments

Nationalism vs. Globalization in the Jihadist Camp

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Tony

Not the face of Iraq’s insurgency The news, if it proves true, that Musab al-Zarqawi has been forced to step down as the leader of a coalition of Jihadi groups in Iraq underscores a point made here last November: That … Continue reading →

Posted in Situation Report | 9 Comments

Foul For Love

Posted on April 1, 2006 by Tony

The thing about chowhounding, is that sooner or later the New York Times always catches up and turns your favorite little outer-borough mama’s-kitchen haunts — that you either happened upon or were clued into by more energetic and committed chowhounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Cuisine | 43 Comments

Death in the Afternoon

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Tony

Okay, time to start cranking up the World Cup output, updating the big picture with quick takes on all things mundial. This week: Teen titan Cesc 1. Why I’m suddenly bullish on Spain — not to win, but perhaps to … Continue reading →

Posted in Glancing Headers | 9 Comments

Abu Mazen Offers a Punchline

Posted on March 23, 2006 by Tony

I’d never figured Mahmoud Abbas for Rupert Pupkin, but you’ve got to admire the guy’s material — and his exquisite comic timing. Latest example: The punchline he offered after Hamas presented him with its cabinet: “Yes, but Hamas has failed … Continue reading →

Posted in 99c Blogging | 4 Comments

Iraq is the 51st State

Posted on March 22, 2006 by Tony

1. It’s Official: Iraq is the 51st State Amid all the Bush dissembling that marked the third anniversary of his Iraq invasion, it might be easy to forget that we got into this mess because the Democrats and the media … Continue reading →

Posted in Situation Report | 5 Comments