Caucus 4.3.12: Iran - Bluster or Legitimate Threat?

Nine years ago, March 19, the US invaded Iraq under the pretext of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Now we hear saber rattling on Iran under the ruse of their pursuit of nuclear capabilities. 

Where is this chest puffing leading us? What does it say about the Obama administration's foreign policy? Is there a definitive "Obama Doctrine"?

There is a ton of material out there on this subject. I recommend three citations:

"Moving Beyond War." Bill Moyer interview with Andrew Bacevich. Either 53min video or audio can be found here.

"Time to Attack Iran? A Debate." Opposing views on televised debate moderated by Foreign Affairs, here.

"A Middle Course on Iran." To contain Iran, or to preempt? That is, at present, the question, here.

See you on Tuesday. 

Lobbyists, Guns and Money

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Florida’s now-infamous Stand Your Ground law, which lets you shoot someone you consider threatening without facing arrest, let alone prosecution, sounds crazy — and it is. And it’s tempting to dismiss this law as the work of ignorant yahoos. But similar laws have been pushed across the nation, not by ignorant yahoos but by big corporations. 

Specifically, language virtually identical to Florida’s law is featured in a template supplied to legislators in other states by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate-backed organization that has managed to keep a low profile even as it exerts vast influence (only recently, thanks to yeoman work by the Center for Media and Democracy, has a clear picture of ALEC’s activities emerged). And if there is any silver lining to Trayvon Martin’s killing, it is that it might finally place a spotlight on what ALEC is doing to our society — and our democracy.

Full article here.

Moments of Truth - Goldman

Every great once and awhile a time comes when truth sees the light of day: Goldman Sachs.

Derivative Follow-Up

We had yet another thought provoking roundtable. Special thanks to Matt Elley for facilitating.  Below are a few follow-up links that were referenced during the discussion. Enjoy!

On the origins of the mathematical equation that led so many of these derivative instruments to be severely mispriced (or, conversely, the risk severely misjudged), here.

Vanity Fair article on Jon Corzine, the gentle sir who presided over the recent blow up/bankruptcy of MF Global...Corzine previously ran Goldman Sachs and was Governor of New Jersey, here.