“My goal in Baghdad was to facilitate a debate here in the United States on America's policy toward Iraq, a debate that's been sadly lacking.” StatesAmericaGoalUnitedUnited StatesPolicyIraqDebateLackingFacilitateBaghdad Author:Scott Ritter
“I find Chinese debates about their political system domestically, but also about China's claims in the international system, to be among the most original and surprising and exciting of our time. The starting point is a system that none of us had anticipated, which I call Leninist capitalism, but also obviously because it is the most important emerging power. The question of China's relations with the United States in particular, and the rest of the world in general, is the question of war and peace in the 21st century.” WorldImportantWarStatesPoliticalUnitedUnited StatesCenturyParticularCapitalismExcitingClaimsRelationOriginalsStartingInternationalChinaDebateChineseOur TimeSurprising21st CenturyEmergingPolitical SystemsStarting Point Author:Timothy Garton Ash
“Of all the differences between the Old World and the New, this is perhaps the most salient. Half the wars of Europe, half the internal troubles that have vexed European States... have arisen from theological differences or from the rival claims of Church and State. This whole vast chapter of debate and strife has remained virtually unopened in the United States. There is no Established Church. All religious bodies are equal before the law, and unrecognized by the law, except as voluntary associations of private citizens.” WorldWarStatesWholeBodyLawDifferencesChurchReligiousUnitedHalfUnited StatesTroubleAtheismCitizensEqualEuropeClaimsPositive AtheismDebateInternalsAssociationChaptersStrifeRivalsChurch And StateTheologicalOld World Author:James Bryce
“I'm completely fascinated by the health-care debate going on in the United States, especially by posters of Obama with a little mustache drawn on his upper lip. Is that what Hitler is really known for, his health-care plan? To quote Bill Maher, "I haven't seen this many pissed-off old white people since they cancelled 'Murder She Wrote.'"” PeopleLittlesStatesCareWhiteUnitedKnownUnited StatesPlansHavensMurderBillsLipsDebateHealth CareFascinatedPostersPissed OffMustache Author:David Sedaris
“The drilling idea is spherically senseless - it's senseless from whatever point of view you look at it. It'd take 10 years to bring any oil online, and it would probably go to Japan. It sure wouldn't help gasoline prices here. All the economists say gasoline is still too cheap in the United States anyway. So here we're having this huge debate over offshore drilling that is just straightforward nonsense, which won't surprise you.” YearsLooksStillsIdeasStatesHelpingUnitedViewsUnited StatesHugeSurpriseOilPoint Of ViewDebateNonsenseJapanOnlineEconomistStraightforwardGasolineDrillingOffshoreGasoline Prices Author:Paul R. Ehrlich