Democracy has both expanded and declined over the years.

State formation has been a brutal project, with many hideous consequences. But the results exist, and their pernicious aspects should be overcome.

You know, we have little bits of understanding, glimpses, a little bit of light here and there, but there's a tremendous amount of darkness, which is a challenge. I think life would be pretty boring if we understood everything. It's better if we don't understand anything and know that we don't, that's the important part.

It's only terrorism if they do it to us. When we do much worse to them, it's not terrorism.

Sooner or later, jihadist-style terror and WMD are going to come together and the consequences could be horrendous.

The drones are a terrorist weapon, they not only kill targets but also terrorise other people.

Take a look at the current debates in Washington, and of course, everything in the media. Only one issue is discussed: the deficit - the least significant issue, but the most significant issue for the banks. The big problem, joblessness, is barely discussed, even though that's what the public wants, as polls clearly show. That's even what the business press supports, but the financial institutions are so powerful that the only issue is the deficit, and this runs right through the intellectual culture.