Priorities and Perspective.

Which is more important? I admit, at present, it's impossible to know as we could be at the precipice of global economic catastrophe. But nonetheless, I put it to you.

On economy, GOP chair prefers McCain
Mike Sigler / Guest Column

A lot of hay has been made over an offhand remark by John McCain that economics was not his strongest suit. That would carry some weight with me if Democrats Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama were well versed in economic policy, but they're not. So it's curious that they're making it a talking point in their campaigns. Just from their positions and votes, I hope it's clear to everyone that McCain has a better grasp of economics than his opponents.

The columnists argument goes: taxes, free-trade, entitlements. I like it. Most ithacans will not. I assure you.

Meanwhile...

THE WORLD FROM BERLIN

'NATO Is not a Land-Grabbing Monster'
The US may want NATO to admit Ukraine and Georgia but Germany and France argue that such a move would unnecessarily provoke Russia. Many German papers on Wednesday question whether enlargement eastwards would really do anything to enhance security.

You may ask: Ukraine? Seriously? With Iraq (the "worst foreign policy disaster in US History") you're asking about Ukraine? I'd point out that Ukraine (an Eastern Orthodox country) sits between the expanding EU and a neo-czarist Russia and currently owns the world's 3^rd largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. That is, larger than the UK's or France's.

Georgia, has no atomic arsenal. It was once the Democratic Republic of Georgia before being destroyed by the Red Army and made into a Soviet Republic (around the same time and in the same manner as was Ukraine BTW). Now, like Ukraine, it sits along one of the 'bloody borders' of two great civilizations (in this case, Georgia happens to border Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam).

Recession sux. Bringing these two states into the western fold might be more important. Er, how about: Allowing states like the Ukraine and Georgia to slip back uunder Moscow's domination (with their nuclear arsenals and strategic locations) might amount to the first real diplomatic disaster of the 21^st century? Isn't undermining the 'Clash of Civilizations' narrative more important than an economic blip?

Or, in a few years will we be asking, who lost Ukraine/Georgia?