I recall a conversation I had with a friend a while ago. My friend was perturbed that I called Hugo Chavez a “nut job” and also my critique of Jimmy Carter for attempting to be diplomatic with said “nut job”. He wasn’t really defending Chavez too strongly. His point was that Chavez controls a lot [...]

This is from the International Herald Tribune.
Unrest spread in Tehran on Thursday, the second day of gasoline rationing in oil-rich Iran, with drivers lining up for miles, gas stations being set on fire and state-run banks and business centers coming under attack.
Dozens were arrested, and the Tehran police chief, Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, complained to reporters [...]