Calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas may stem from humanitarian concerns, but history and strategic reasoning suggest that the fastest and most enduring path to peace is through decisive victory. Drawing parallels with World War II, it becomes clear why a ceasefire at this juncture could prolong suffering rather […]
Arguments against ceasefires
Arguments against ceasefires
27 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: game theory, Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror
Hawks, doves, Israel and Iran
13 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, defence economics, economics of information, economics of media and culture, Public Choice, war and peace Tags: game theory, Iran, Israel, Middle-East politics, war against terror
In The Conversation last October, Andrew Thomas (Deakin University) discussed the recent (at that time) military flare-up between Iran and Israel, likening it to a ‘game of chicken’:Israel’s strike on military targets in Iran over the weekend is becoming a more routine occurrence in the decades-long rivalry between the two states…There is a reason why…
Hawks, doves, Israel and Iran
Four dead hostages, including the Bibas family, handed over to Israel by Hamas
21 Feb 2025 1 Comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror
The inevitable happened this morning: Hamas turned over four dead bodies of Israeli hostages, encased in black boxes. And, contrary to my expectations, there was a ceremony, with posters blaming the deaths on Netanyahu and the Red Cross there signing documents. The bodies included the Bibas family (Shiri Bibas and her two children. four-year-old Ariel […]
Four dead hostages, including the Bibas family, handed over to Israel by Hamas
Terrorism vs Guerrilla Warfare or ‘Freedom Fighting’
19 Feb 2025 1 Comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, war against terror, West Bank
Understanding the Differences Between Terrorism and Guerrilla Warfare or ‘Freedom Fighting’ The terms terrorism, guerrilla warfare, and freedom fighting are often used interchangeably in popular discourse, yet they embody distinct concepts with unique characteristics and implications. This essay explores the differences between these three terms, focusing on their methodologies, objectives, and the ethical considerations that […]
Terrorism vs Guerrilla Warfare or ‘Freedom Fighting’
Interesting piece of history
10 Feb 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, International law, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left
Nicholas Reed Langen: The Use and Abuse of Citizenship Deprivation: SSHD v Kolicaj
07 Feb 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, law and economics, war and peace Tags: British politics, constitutional law, Middle-East politics, war against terror
Any British citizen that happens to hold citizenship for another country could find themselves in an invidious position. If the Home Secretary decides that it would be ‘conducive to the public good’, they can single-handedly strip a person of their citizenship, and with it, their right to remain in the country. So long as the deprivation […]
Nicholas Reed Langen: The Use and Abuse of Citizenship Deprivation: SSHD v Kolicaj
Good question
03 Feb 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, International law, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror, West Bank
Minto’s Monsters
31 Jan 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: free speech, Gaza Strip, Middle-East politics, political correctness, regressive left, war against terror
After the resistance fighters broke out from Gaza there was a “second wave” of people who came through the fence and it appears this group were responsible for most of the war crimes committed on that day rather than fighters from the highly-disciplined resistance groups – John Minto, TDB, October 6, 2024 Does the guy in […]
Minto’s Monsters
Some Jimmy Carter observations from the 1970s
01 Jan 2025 Leave a comment
in business cycles, defence economics, economic history, economics of regulation, energy economics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, politics - USA, war and peace Tags: Middle-East politics
Usually I am reluctant to criticize or even write about the recently departed, but perhaps for former Presidents there is greater latitude to do so. I never loved Jimmy Carter, and I saw plenty of him on TV and read about his administration on a daily basis in The New York Times. I fully appreciate […]
Some Jimmy Carter observations from the 1970s
The Timeline of Crimes Committed by Bashar al-Assad
09 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, development economics, economic history, economics of crime, growth disasters, International law, law and economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: Middle-East politics, Syria, war against terror
Bashar al-Assad has been the President of Syria since 2000, inheriting power from his father, Hafez al-Assad. His presidency has been marked by widespread human rights abuses, war crimes, and violations of international law, particularly during the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. As the leader of the Syrian government, Assad’s policies and military […]
The Timeline of Crimes Committed by Bashar al-Assad
Ending Assad’s rule is good, but the replacement may be worse
08 Dec 2024 1 Comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, law and economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: Middle-East politics, Syria, war against terror
It looks like the Assad regime which has ruled Syria since 1971 may be about to crumble. The Civil War started 13 years ago but was thought to be at a stalemate, but suddenly two major cities have fallen, and opposition forces are approach Damascus. The fact Iran and Russia have started to evacuate their […]
Ending Assad’s rule is good, but the replacement may be worse
Natasha Hausdorff gives better than she gets at the Oxford Union debates
07 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: free speech, Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, political correctness, regressive left, war against terror
The most recent Oxford Union debate was both odious and raucous, and you can read about it in a piece by Niall Ferguson at The Free Press (archived here). An excerpt: Something is rotten in the state of Britain. It was epitomized by a recent [Nov. 28] event at the Oxford Union, the 201-year-old debating […]
Natasha Hausdorff gives better than she gets at the Oxford Union debates
Syria and The War Of All Against All
07 Dec 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, laws of war, war and peace Tags: Middle-East politics, Syria, war against terror
As if the Middle East is not rent by enough warfare already – with Israel fighting Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in South Yemen, all proxy fighters for Iran, which itself has attacked Israel twice with mass bombardment of missiles and been counter-bombed by Israel once, plus numerous smaller scraps between the proxies of Saudi […]
Syria and The War Of All Against All
Guest Post: Response to Max Harris
24 Nov 2024 1 Comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror
A guest post by Lucy Rogers: On 8 November 2024 Max Harris wrote an op ed for The Dominion Post on the Israel – Lebanon conflict. Harris’ article was profoundly misleading in numerous respects and I immediately wrote a response which was submitted to the editor of the Post on 9 November. To that email […]
Guest Post: Response to Max Harris
TARGETED BEIRUT: THE 1983 MARINE BARRACKS BOMBING AND THE UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY OF THE WAR ON TERROR by Jack Carr and James M. Scott
16 Nov 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA, war and peace Tags: Lebanon, Middle-East politics, war against terror
(The scene around the U.S. Marine Corps base near Beirut, Lebanon, following a massive bomb blast that destroyed the base on Oct. 23, 1983) On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unspeakable terrorist attack on Israel killing over 1200 men, women, and children, and seizing over 200 hostages. The Israeli response was a brutal attack […]
TARGETED BEIRUT: THE 1983 MARINE BARRACKS BOMBING AND THE UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY OF THE WAR ON TERROR by Jack Carr and James M. Scott
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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