by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 28, 1998

Last June, in a piece titled “Let Russia Default,” this writer noted the obvious. Awash in debts, running a huge deficit, Russia should be allowed to default; and not one more U.S. tax dollar should be put at risk by the IMF trying to hide Russia’s bankruptcy.

Russia’s chief financial officer, Venianin Sokolov was quoted in that column as conceding that all the IMF billions pumped into his country had been lost, wasted, or stolen “at the highest levels” of what he called an “entirely corrupt regime.”

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 21, 1998

WASHINGTON — In ordering U.S. cruise missile strikes on the terrorist base in Afghanistan and the chemical weapons plant in Sudan, President Clinton acted decisively against the enemies of this country. These retaliatory — and pre-emptive — strikes were justified and merit the support of his countrymen.

But as the president returns to Martha’s Vineyard, the darkening cloud that hangs over his presidency has not lifted — and indeed the sad end to this presidency is beginning to come into view.

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 18, 1998

In the national argument over the rules and regulations that should govern the U.S. economy, there was always one agreed-upon principle: We must decide based on what is best for Americans.

Economic patriotism, however, is dying in America. If you do not believe it, consider the impending sellout of America’s high-tech workers — to appease the computer titans of Silicon Valley.

A decade ago, Silicon Valley demanded and got what is known as the H-1B program, granting U.S. residency to 65,000 high-skilled foreign workers every year to fill jobs in the industry. Two-thirds of a million “computer braceros,” mostly Chinese and South Asians, have snapped up these jobs that would otherwise have gone to U.S. citizens.

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 14, 1998

As the talking heads of the cable channels chatter on about what Bill Clinton should tell the grand jury — the truth is among the options being discussed — an event of epochal significance is taking place beyond our shores. The Global Economy is careening toward disaster, and the Clintonites seem clueless about how to stop it.

Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin’s June intervention to rescue the Japanese yen failed. The yen is now at an eight-year low against the dollar and sinking. Tokyo’s stock market is 60 percent below its high a decade ago and falling, and Japan’s banks are sitting on perhaps $1 trillion in bad debt. Asia’s mightiest economy is shrinking and incapable of helping pull the continent out of the maelstrom.

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 11, 1998

Those twin slaughters in Kenya and Tanzania were acts of unvarnished criminality and cruelty that call for swift retribution. Those who perpetrated these vile atrocities, and the regimes that aided them, deserve a truly ruthless retaliation.

But far from being “senseless acts of violence,” in the oft-invoked cliche, these deeds were purposeful. They were war crimes against America, declarations that the struggle to drive us out of the Islamic world is no longer confined to the Middle East. It will be waged worldwide, and any U.S. outpost, anywhere, is now fair game.

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 7, 1998

This fall, the Manhattan Theatre Club will host the latest play of three-time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally. The central figure in McNally’s “Corpus Christi” is a Jesus character named Joshua who is crucified as “king of the queers.”

By The New York Times’ account, “Joshua has a long-running affair with Judas and sexual relations with the other Apostles. Only one sexual encounter, a non-explicit one with an HIV-positive street hustler, takes place in any form on stage.” (Thanks for that, Terry.)

by Patrick J. Buchanan – August 4, 1998

Before Congress adjourns, yet another test of strength is coming between the disciples of globalism and the forces of a resurgent U.S. patriotism. The issue is “fast track,” a bill to strip Congress of all authority to amend trade treaties.

Under fast track, once the Clintonites negotiate a trade deal, Congress has only a choice of rubber stamps: “Yes” or “No.”