There's a link there to a really interesting article. Starts out about the Middle East then rambles on to China. While I don't agree with many of the conclusions, his analysis is really interesting.

• http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/649qrsob.asp?pg=1

I've been reading Ralph Peters' columns for years, but hadn't seen that one. Thanks. Very interesting.

On Top 10 (or Top 20) lists, I think they're unrealistic unless you exclude, say, the last 30 years or so. Reagan, Clinton are just too close (not that I'd include either). MLK's importance goes back some 40 years, so I'd say he can be considered. I've never made such a list, but he'd probably be in my top 20. Part of the problem is with the imprecision of the term "greatest". Does it mean most influential, or is there also a moral component? John Calhoun, Jefferson Davis and Eugene McCarthy profoundly affected the course of our nation's history, but I wouldn't consider them if "greatest" means most influential and admirable. Others in this category might include Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson.