Tag Archives: cuban missile crisis

Competent Crisis Management

Posted on April 13, 2025 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, April 13, 2025 In 1962, as a college junior, I needed an elective to fill out my program. Given the state of the world and the Cold War, I thought Americans ought to be learning Russian, so I … Continue reading →

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Columbia University, Antisemitism, and Free Speech

Posted on March 15, 2025 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, March 15, 2025 I began my undergraduate career at Columbia University as a naïve, seventeen-year-old Jewish kid from Brooklyn. In 1960, Columbia was an elite university, an Ivy League school ranked with Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and the … Continue reading →

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The Reality of a Nuclear World Order

Posted on October 10, 2022 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, October 10, 2022 The week after next is Cuban Missile Crisis Week. It will mark sixty years during which the world managed to avoid self-destruction with nuclear weapons. I have vivid memories of the final day of the … Continue reading →

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The Nuclear Madman Scenario

Posted on March 1, 2022 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, March 1, 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was always going to be a risky proposition with the borders between Ukraine and four NATO countries within shelling and rocket range of the fighting. The risk seems greater now that … Continue reading →

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Biden vs Putin

Posted on February 22, 2022 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, February 22, 2022 Remember the testimony during the Senate trial of Trump’s first impeachment? If you watched much of it, you were impressed with Fiona Hill, who served as Trump’s chief Russia expert, which is not to say … Continue reading →

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A Deadly Game of Brinksmanship

Posted on June 4, 2021 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, June 4, 2021 Brinksmanship is like poker. You may be holding a winning hand. You may be bluffing. More than one player may believe he has a winning hand, and some players may behave irrationally. If that happens … Continue reading →

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The High Stakes Gambler at the Helm

Posted on January 8, 2020 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, January 8, 2020 Donald Trump has described his negotiating style as gathering all the players in a room, tossing in a hand grenade, and then swooping in to close a deal before they know what hit them. That … Continue reading →

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The Only One Who Matters

Posted on November 6, 2017 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, November 6, 2017 The United States State Department has more than 30,000 employees. Most of them are dedicated professionals with no political affiliation. Many have narrow specialties which they’ve been honing for twenty years or more. Many speak … Continue reading →

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This Needs to End

Posted on August 14, 2017 by alanpzendell

Alan Zendell, August 14, 2017 John Oliver often begins his HBO show, Last Week Tonight, by saying, “President Donald Trump – three words that should never appear in the same sentence.” Back in March, that seemed over the top. Today … Continue reading →

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