It’s a fairly common saying, at least in the Western world, that when you try to prohibit an activity on moral grounds ,the people will find a way to do it, anyway. This is usually made in reference to our current legal prohibitions on drinking for young people ages 18 to 21 and our legal (for pre-18s) and social (for 18 and above) prohibitions on casual sex. They don’t work. In 2008, more than 65% of underage college students in the U.S. drank at least once in the last 30 days. The studies on sex seem to be a bit murkier (there’s no single accepted definition of “sex” among college students), but from I’ve seen, it seems be somewhere in the low-mid 40 percent range for college students. Whether the reason for these numbers is rebellion against a conservative household, a culture of permissiveness, or something else is a discussion for another time.| MORE ›

This article on China and Russia by Professor Barry Rubin, is the most interesting analysis of international politics I’ve read this week:

China is very much motivated toward development rather than ideology or geopolitical ambition. It wants to get along with everyone as much as possible and make lots of money.| MORE ›

It’s unbelievable but former President Jimmy Carter has outdone himself this time:

Another moment of lunacy from this nation’s biggest Oval Office mistake of the 20th century — which may be akin to saying “water is still wet,” but we should be keeping a tally.| MORE ›

Successful revolutions have three phases. First, a strategically located single or limited segment of society begins vocally to express resentment, asserting itself in the streets of a major city, usually the capital. This segment is joined by other segments in the city and by segments elsewhere as the demonstration spreads to other cities and becomes more assertive, disruptive and potentially violent.| MORE ›

As Rich Lowry quoted a friend of his as saying, we are seeing one of the most important events taking place in our lifetime: the revolution in Iran continues to grow in scope and ferocity.

Where the powerful Basij militia once oppressed the Iranian people, it’s members now have to flee for their lives whenever they stumble across angry citizens.| MORE ›

The Jerusalem Post reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Iran will not retreat “one iota on [its] nuclear rights.” He added that he was extremely happy that the West, and especially the U.S., seems to grow to agree with him.| MORE ›

This is how Middle Easterners should deal with organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.

Residents of a southern Lebanon village evicted a number of Hezbollah operatives who sought to establish positions and store arms in the town.| MORE ›

The best part of the crisis in Iran, is that extremists and fundamentalists everywhere are panicking. They thought that the Iranian regime would remain in place for years, perhaps decades to come. Tehran has been supporting them – think of Hizbullah, Hamas but also dozens of other fundamentalist and extremist* organizations, newspapers, groups, etc.| MORE ›

This article is written by Bob Barr, who most recently was the Libertarian Party’s candidate for president.

In early 1968, North Vietnam launched a series of military offensives across South Vietnam that became known as the Tet Offensive. Military experts agree that by the end of the offensive in April, the United States and South Vietnamese had beaten the North, which suffered significant casualties.| MORE ›

The timing of it is rather unexpected, but it seems that a true revolution is taking place in Iran. Many commentators and politicians, President Obama first and foremost, have insisted in recent weeks that the difference between Ahmadinejad and Mir Hossein Moussavi is neglectible, but Iranians seem to strongly disagree on that.| MORE ›