Will 2013 come to be known as the year of presidential decree? The year the president ignored Congress, changed the rules of government, and put into place whatever policies he saw fit?
If power is the No. 1 currency in international politics, China is busy stocking its coffers. China's communist leaders have made major strides in military development in recent years, as evidenced by China's annual increases in defense spending, which doubled from 1997 to 2003.
One cannot read this book without recalling that aphorism of Otto von Bismarck: "There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America."
The early decades of the 19th century saw the rise and fall of Napoleon; the middle decades of the next century brought the ruthless expansion of Germany under Adolf Hitler. Napoleon and Hitler were both charismatic leaders, able to sway armies or multitudes by their mere presence.
If you threw a dart at a map of the Middle East and North Africa, you almost couldn't miss hitting a spot where a historic event was unfolding.
'Sarah Palin is supposedly attending Monday nights season premiere of 'Dancing With the Stars 'to cheer on daughter Bristol Palin, one of the contestants in the dancing competition this season - yeah, were still trying to figure that one out - and TMZ.com says security has been beefed up in preparation for Sarahs attendance at Bristols debut.'
