Author Archives: Joe Benning

The New Barbarians

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Joe Benning

Toward the end of February 2001 Mohammed Omar, the Taliban’s spiritual leader, ordered the destruction of all the statues in Afghanistan because, he said, they were idolatrous. And so the Taliban went about the systematic destruction of pre-Islamic artwork, which … Continue reading →

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Death in Charlottesville, Virginia

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Joe Benning

It has come to this: The President of the United States had to be dragged kicking and screaming into making a statement condemning neo-Nazis in Virginia. This was not a mere abstract exercise. The neo-Nazis in question had staged a … Continue reading →

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Now It’s Getting Serious

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Joe Benning

The Clinton, Bush and Obama Administrations insisted that a nuclear-armed North Korea would be “unacceptable” even as Pyongyang continued to test and develop nuclear weapons and delivery systems. In fact, as recently as a couple of years ago foreign policy … Continue reading →

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Dateline August 8, 2017—Lenox Massachusetts

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Joe Benning

The Kemble Inn, located in Lenox, is just a mile or so down the road from Tanglewood. A classic New England Inn, it features spectacular views of the Berkshires and a decent restaurant where a very good Amarone will set … Continue reading →

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The First Duty of Intelligent Men

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Joe Benning

“Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.” George Orwell   With Orwell’s aphorism in mind I am reminded of when I served as a juror in a trial.   It was a criminal case … Continue reading →

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Charlie Gard, Requiem in Pace

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Joe Benning

There was a time not so long ago when courts would intervene if parents refused to get medical help for a gravely ill minor child. Now, in England, we have the case of Charlie Gard. In that case the courts … Continue reading →

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The Impeachable Mr. Trump

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Joe Benning

It is now beyond dispute that the Russian government of Vladimir Putin sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. That the Russian government tried to subvert the American political process should come as no surprise—they’ve been … Continue reading →

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Trump’s Important Speech in Poland

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Joe Benning

Stranger things have happened. With storm clouds gathering speed over Russia, China, Iran and North Korea President Trump not only conducted himself like a grown-up, he delivered a speech in Poland that sounded positively Reaganesque. He delivered a much-needed affirmation … Continue reading →

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The Unbearable Absurdities of Politics

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Joe Benning

The continuing absurdities of Progressive politics are on full display in New York City and Chicago. Let’s start with New York.   Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway project will take riders between 96th and 63rd Street at a … Continue reading →

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The Korean Peninsula

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Joe Benning

The Clinton, Bush and Obama Administrations all pretty much followed the same policy with respect to North Korea, which was to attempt to bribe North Korea into giving up its nuclear program in exchange for food and cash. Any remote … Continue reading →

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