Inside Opinion » European union

A Nobel prize for idiots?

Patrick O'Callahan — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:40:25 +0000

I’ve never figured out the business of awarding Nobel Peace Prizes to large organizations. When you’re honoring a crowd, you’re really honoring nobody in particular. Here’s one historian’s acid take on the virtues of the European Union:

Nobel Prize for Idiots, Signifying Only Bias
By Andrew Roberts
Bloomberg News

It is hard to imagine anything more wrongheaded than last week’s decision by the Nobel Committee to award its Peace Prize to the European Union. Until, that is, one is reminded of the frauds, terrorists, totalitarians and world- class idiots who have won the award over the past 20

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Aviation biofuel plans could be a boon for the Northwest

Cheryl Tucker — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:38:18 +0000

Camelina plant shows promise as the source of aviation biofuel. (MCT)

This editorial will appear in Monday’s print edition.

A humble plant grown in ancient times for its oil is making a welcome comeback – as a source of jet fuel. And the Pacific Northwest is well poised to be a leader in this growing and important industry.

Camelina, a flowering plant related to mustard, is being tested as a biofuel for military and commercial aviation.

A 50-50 blend already has been used successfully by the Air Force’s Thunderbirds squadron. And Boeing’s 747-8 freighter that …

Greece: A cautionary tale with a moral for America

Patrick O'Callahan — Wed, 05 May 2010 02:46:38 +0000

This editorial will appear in tomorrow’s print edition.

Deficits matter.

Just ask the Europeans who’ve been forced to bail out spendthrift Greece to protect their own economies. Just ask Americans who are suddenly seeing the Euro-scare drag down the U.S. stock market.

Wednesday’s 2-plus percent hit on U.S. stocks was largely driven by growing anxiety that Greece’s flirtation with catastrophe could spill over into Portugal, Spain, Ireland and perhaps Italy – all countries threatened by a general erosion of confidence. The ripples could hurt banks and investors around the world who have a financial stake in those countries.

Serious, …