Peter Van Buren's Blog, page 13

Academic Racism By a Different Name

A decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina/Harvard College is due very soon. It is widely held the decision will do away with or greatly weaken affirmative action in college admissions, removing or dramatically limiting race as a criterion. But far from helping solve […]

Never Again? DeSantis and Torture

During a press conference at the Museum of Tolerance in West Jerusalem in April, Ron DeSantis was questioned about a former detainee’s claim that as a naval attorney at Guantanamo DeSantis watched as the prisoner was force fed, something the UN regards as torture. “Do you honestly believe that’s credible? It’s 2006, I’m a junior […]

The Final Durham Report: Democracy’s Horror Show

Hillary knew. She knew her campaign paid for Russian disinformation (including the alleged pee tape accusations) to be washed through a report by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. She knew the information was false but could potentially allow her to win the election. Hillary lied to the FBI about all this, and lied to […]

A Spectator Looks at the Durham Report

This week’s Durham Report is as close as we’ll get in our lifetimes to proof the Deep State, working in concert with the mainstream media, exists. The final 306 page Durham Report was released this week. The report was written by former U.S. Attorney John Durham, who was chosen in the aftermath of the Mueller […]

What Do You Do With the Past?

That’s me in back row of the photo of the old junior high school football team, with the dorky glasses. In an age of apologies and reparations it begs an answer: what do you do about the past? It starts easy. The adult close to me is Mr. Hammer, the wood shop teacher. Yes, Mr. […]

Jack Teixeira and Security Clearances

Air National Guard leaker Jack Teixeira had one of the highest levels of security clearance. Over five million Americans, more than the population of Costa Rica, Ireland or New Zealand, hold some type of security clearance. Can we trust them? Is Teixeira an exception, or is the process never expected to work 100 percent of […]

Four Tips for My New Undergrad Classmates

I am now officially old, at least old enough to take advantage of a program at my local public university that allows me, an old person, to audit a class alongside undergrads gratis. In theory I’m supposed to add my life experiences to their learning, and they are to see in me the pleasure of […]

Ukraine War: What Do We Know?

At one year old and growing like a weed, the war in Ukraine has some lessons for us. Unfortunately they are old lessons, ones we should have already learned in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such as… …Sanctions don’t work and probably harm U.S. interests. Sanctions and the threat of more sanctions failed to stop Saddam from […]

Japan in the Slow Lane

If you are one of the handful of people who really miss 2020, you’d do well to head to Japan as I did, a land where time stood still. Everyone here (and by that I mean every single person and most children) wears a mask against the seemingly omnivorous threat of Covid. Yes, it is […]

Fixing the Security Clearance Process

How do you fix the security clearance process? The security clearance process is not a real-time, ongoing endeavor. Instead, someone applies for a government or contractor job that requires a clearance, some sort of background check is done, and a clearance decision is adjudicated. Next case, please. Most clearances are only reviewed every five years […]