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Harlan Ullman

Articles by Harlan Ullman

ULLMAN: To the shores of Tripoli

Sunday's rescue of the skipper of the Maersk Alabama, Richard Phillips, from Somali pirates brought home an old story. Pirates have been around since at least the days of the Roman Republic. Whether in the Caribbean or off the North African coasts, piracy has a rich and often exaggerated history romanticized and popularized by Hollywood. But for sailors plying the ocean in and around the Malaca Straits and the Horn of Africa, pirates have been a serious matter.

April 14, 2009

ULLMAN: Highpoint for terrorists

At an undisclosed location in the Hindu Kush — Assuming he were alive and in full control of his faculties, what event in 2008 might Osama bin Laden choose as the most significant for him and his ambitions?

January 7, 2009

ULLMAN: U.S. needs Santa’s help

Presidents and presidents-elect are not known for their correspondence or collusions with Santa Claus. Still, it would be intriguing to learn what the nation's 44th president, Barack Obama, wishes for in the nation's stocking or under the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House come dawn tomorrow.

December 24, 2008

ULLMAN: India-Pakistan disarmament?

Let us assume, at least for the moment, that the crisis between Pakistan and India over the Mumbai terror attacks two weeks ago recedes and a resolution acceptable to both sides can be found that does no permanent damage to future relationships in South Asia. Beyond the necessity of averting a shooting conflict between two nuclear-armed states that have gone to war with each other before, can this crisis be turned into an opportunity?

December 10, 2008

ULLMAN: Defense spending

Make no mistake. What happened to Wall Street and to Main Street threatens the Department of Defense. As Wall Street and Main Street have imploded, if strong action is not taken now, America's military will suffer a similarly disastrous collapse. For those who dismiss this warning as too alarmist, the shocking demise of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch and possibly the nation's Big Three auto makers should be chastening and illuminating. Many of the same symptoms of danger ignored for the economy are present in defense.

November 26, 2008

ULLMAN: Driving the revolution

What headlines! General Motors announces it is running out of money. Ford and Chrysler are not far behind. What happened to these American industrial icons? And what will happen?

November 18, 2008

ULLMAN: With all deliberate speed

"Ready, Fire, Aim" caricatures how U.S. administrations and governments often behave. Had George W. Bush not succumbed to this syndrome in going to war in Iraq, President-elect John McCain might be fashioning his transition. Instead, millions at home and abroad are congratulating and saluting the next American president, Barack Obama.

November 12, 2008

ULLMAN: President’s challenge

How do governments predict and then respond to prevent crisis? The answer is they usually don't. The current financial and economic calamities are classic cases in point. Despite warnings of clear and present danger, nothing happened beforehand.

October 29, 2008

ULLMAN: Too many national wolves

To use an image familiar to Sarah Palin, the most dangerous wolf is the one closest to the dog sled. But, in today's political environment, that observation has changed. No one wolf is closest to the American sled. Most of the pack has already leapt aboard.

October 15, 2008

ULLMAN: Short-sighted candidates

Tomorrow night may prove to be the most- watched of all the campaign debates. After all, Gov. Sarah Palin has been under political house arrest so as not to make major blunders. And the far more experienced and ubiquitous Sen. Joe Biden has indeed made more than his share of gaffes that so far have not damaged Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, but surely could. Hence, the public is hoping for some sort of fireworks show.

October 1, 2008

Ullman: If this were that …

Oscar Wilde mused that in academic life, the reason politics were so sharp was because the stakes were so small. In presidential elections, the reverse is true. The stakes are huge. And the politics too often are "small," meaning petty, petulant and fixated on winning rather than on governing.

September 17, 2008

ULLMAN: A medal for Putin

Bold, daring and risky! Those words surely apply to John McCain and his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice- presidential running mate. But, ironically, they also apply to Vladimir Putin and the Russian response in Georgia. And, as in war, these words can lead to catastrophic disaster or to winning medals.

September 3, 2008