Eye on the Watcher’s Council

As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.

The Watcher’s Council has a new member: AbbaGav. Welcome.

The Glittering Eye, “Dysfunctional Neighborhood”

In my submission for this week I suggest a way of thinking about the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict: the actions of all parties are eminently understandable ones.

ShrinkWrapped, “A Perspective on Tribes and Anti-Semitism”

In this post ShrinkWrapped muses on range of topics include tribalism, socialism, communism, and anti-semitism and considers the interrelationships among them.

I think he’s a trifle too quick to think of socialism as “what they have”. Every modern developed country has a hybrid system: some socialism, some state capitalism, some private enterprise, some who knows what. Some have a little more socialism; some have a little more libertarianism. It’s unclear to me that a modern developed country can be that way without such a system.

I do think that the notions of tribalism and tribal religions are critical to understanding the conflicts that are going on right now. Anyone can join a universal religion: Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam are all universal religions. You must be born into a purely tribal religion as, for example, the Yezidis in Iraq. Most tribal religions don’t encourage conversion. Some don’t allow it.

Judaism is, basically, a tribal religion. Hinduism is a tribal religion. Islam, while a universal religion, retains a few features of a tribal religion e.g. the belief that it’s impossible to understand the Qu’ran except in Arabic.

Socratic Rhythm Method, “Presidential Signing Statements II: So That’s Why He Hasn’t Been Vetoing Stuff”

Matt continues his series on presidential signing statements.

The idea of legal interpretation as the exclusive prerogative of the courts is an interesting one and it hasn’t always been that way. Previous to the early 19^th century the practice was that legal interpretation was the right of legislators, executives, the courts, and the people. The courts have,essentially, usurped this role (it’s not in the Constitution) and we’ve found it a useful usurpation.

I see these “signing statements” as a re-assertion of an old right rather than claiming something radically new. While I dislike that role being the exclusive province of the judiciary, the most elitist branch of government, I doubt that executive legal interpretation will be allowed to stand, at least not in the way in which the Bush Administration has seen it.

The Education Wonks, “Redefining Parental Rights: the Latest Battle”

EdWonk considers a case of parental control over their child’s medical care. It’s a thorny issue—I certainly don’t see it as being cut-and-dried. Do parents have a right to employ quack medical treatments as an alternative to conventional medical treatments which stand a chance of working?

Rhymes With Right, “Cohen to Israel—Just Lay Back and Enjoy It”

Greg comments on Richard Cohen’s infamous “Israel was a mistake” article. As I noted at the time I really wish that all parties would take a day-forward approach and start discussing how all parties can live side by side rather than raking up old scores, arguing about history, and arguing about mythology masquerading as history.

Joshuapundit, “Richard Cohen Soils Himself”

Freedom Fighter fisks thesame Richard Cohen article.

Gates of Vienna, “As Old As the Garden of Eden”

Dymphna posts on the sexual harassment of women in India, part of her “I Could Scream” series. I will only add that in many places discimination against women begins before birth.

Right Wing Nut House, “Who Will ‘Disarm’ Hisbullah?”

With the calls from a variety of directions for a UN peacekeeping force as a solution to the Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities, Rick asks a highly relevant question. Considering the word ”will” alone I don’t see a great deal of interest on the part of whatever international community there is. I’ve got one that I think is equally basic: of those who might who can? Do those who have the will (if any) have the ability to do the job?

Done With Mirrors, “Of Vice and Men”

Callimachus considers a Theodore Dalrymple essay on the decline of personal responsibility as a solution for our troubles. Callimachus provides historical perspective and notes that the pedigree of blaming society or the system for one’ problems goes back a long way even in the United States.

The Strata-Sphere, “Did the CIA Block NSA Leads to FISA?”

AJ Strata considers the complex interrelations between the alphabet soup in the FISA wiretapping story.

The Sundries Shack, “Just When He Thinks He’s Out, the Dems Keep Pulling Him Back In”

Jimmie Bise considers the fortunes of Tom DeLay. I’ll try and answer his question. I don’t know enough about the differences between state law in Texas and New Jersey to provide a definitive answer but that’s where you need to look. Greg of Rhymes With Right should be able to provide some observations on the Texas end of the deal.

AbbaGav, “UN Observers Wouldn’t Know a Hizbullah Missile If It Hit Them”

Is Gavriel our first international Council member? A welcome addition.

In this post he provides some background on the track record of one of the current ongoing U. N. peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). It gives weight to the old crack “there’s nothing so permanent as a temporary structure”. The actual performance, as you might expect, has been pretty dismal.

I honestly don’t believe that you can expect a force without the motivation,training, ability, or even a clear mission to accomplish the difficult tasks at hand there.

Well, I’ve made up my mind which posts I’ll vote for. Which would get your vote?