Apologies to readers for the delay in posting material. It's been one of those nightmare work weeks. Here are a few links, though, to fill the empty spaces. I edited this piece by historian Niall Ferguson for the Daily Star. It's a robust defense of the American empire. The Star's website has inverted the link, however, with that to another article by George Irani. (PS -- The link problem has since been resolved)

Readers might also want to look at this necessarily oblique article on the rocket attack Sunday morning against the Future Television station of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Not oblique enough, however, so you can't see who I (and virtually everybody else in Beirut) believe is responsible. If it's not direct enough, though, here is my Monday International Papers column for Slate that might beat a bit less around the bush.