Two great historians covered the great 5th century (BC) war between Athens and Sparta. Thucydides was not available for interview – but Donald Kagan, Professor of History at Yale University, was. Our memorable conversation occurred in 2003 and provides a compelling illumination of the nature of war itself.

The great poet said “The world is too much with us” and if living at this moment he might well add, “and it all might be breaking down right now.” All this is examined in a contentious and extended exchange by our discussants: Chris Robling and Charles Lipson of our A-Team and our Democratic strategist friend David Lundy.

The famously rejected nominee takes on the Supreme Courts of the U.S., Canada and Israel and finds them representative of a great failing in western jurisprudence: i.e. seeking to make new law and, thus, to “legislate” instead of “adjudicate.” He had just published in 2003 a book laying out the argument that he presents quite forcefully in this discussion. And speaking of counter-factuals, how might our history have been different if he had been allowed onto the Supreme Court?

Their former ambassador to the U.K. is now ensconced in a professorship in Washington and quite busy explaining his country – and the rest of the Muslim Middle East – to the west. Here, in a conversation from 2007, Akbad Ahmed sheds revealing light on the most unstable of all the nuclear powers and who in Pakistan is trying to do what, with which, and to whom.

So says Michael Rubin in this conversation recorded just a few days before the one-for-five trade was announced and executed. Would that our side had heard this one before they went forward to unlock the Gitmo gates for the Taliban Big Five. Just published is Rubin’s valuable and wise new book, Dancing With the Devil: The Perils of Engaging Rogue Regimes.