Another working Saturday for Gretchen and me, necessitated by roiling international finance markets precipitated by Ben Bernanke’s remarks on Wednesday that the Federal Reserve might just let up slightly on Quantitative Easing. Considering all the highly negative things the heavy-hitting market mavens have said about QE, I must say the irony hung heavy about my… Continue reading US Courts Taliban in Doha, Karzai Livid
Tag: international affairs
State Department’s Whistle Blower Scandal Cure
Thursday morning, I received a visit from Dr. Evelyn Waugh Tsvangari-O’Shay. She works at the US State Department Office of the Inspector General. “I suppose,” she began, “you are familiar with the recent allegations lodged against us?” “That the Office of the Secretary of State intervened to quash an investigation of an affair between a… Continue reading State Department’s Whistle Blower Scandal Cure
North Korea’s Fearless Leaders’ Chicken Nephew
Earlier this afternoon, Cerise and I were lying in bed at my home in Great Falls, Virginia with all the windows open enjoying the marvelous brisk spring air and sunny weather, combined with the afterglow of a black truffle omelette, Dom Pérignon champagne blood orange mimosa and Beluga caviar brunch, with its natural consequents, when… Continue reading North Korea’s Fearless Leaders’ Chicken Nephew
Cyprus Peers into the Abyss of Default and Winks
Friday night at the Round Robin Bar, I spied Hambis Gaurospore Gamotinmanasu, First Attaché for Economic Policy at the Cypriot Embassy here in Washington DC. There’s this Mediterranean brandy, Metaxa, which is considered a bit déclassé, for the most part. The Round Robin stocks the top-of-the-line item, Metaxa Grande Fine – in the back, of course… Continue reading Cyprus Peers into the Abyss of Default and Winks
Tom Discovers what Hamid Karzai’s been Smoking
Late Friday afternoon, as I was crunching some numbers for the Federal Reserve, Gretchen politely interrupted me. “Mr. Collins,” she announced, her blonde head poked discreetly into my office between the heavy oak doors separating me from the reception area, “Khus Dihugami Dadamizo, Special International Policy Emissary of His Excellency President Hamid Karzai for the… Continue reading Tom Discovers what Hamid Karzai’s been Smoking