This paper by Dr. H.B. Whiteman, titled "We Stole It, Fair and Square," discusses the history and political implications of the Panama Canal and the treaties related to it. It covers the construction of the Canal, the political debates surrounding its control, and the influence of nationalism and international politics. The paper integrates historical context with current controversies, including opinions on the U.S.'s role in Panama and the broader implications for international relations.
The paper discusses the author's reflections on Haiti's historical and current socio-political challenges, informed by personal experiences and interactions with the Haitian people. It outlines Haiti's history of exploitation and resilience, from the arrival of Columbus to recent political and natural disasters. The author highlights key figures, events, and the ongoing struggle for justice and development, advocating for a comprehensive, empathetic approach to aid and reconstruction.
Text of a lecture to the Sphex Club in Lynchburg. The paper examines the rise and fall of Enron, detailing its foundation, leadership, business practices, and the catastrophic consequences of its unethical and financially deceptive operations. Key points include Enron's aggressive expansion, mark-to-market accounting, special purpose entities, and the role of major figures such as Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, and Andrew Fastow. The collapse illustrates broader issues in corporate governance and ethical failures in American business.
Text of a lecture deliever to the SPHEX Club on September 11, 2025. Marc Schewel’s paper examines two major CIA-led Cold War interventions: Operation Ajax in Iran (1953) and Operation Success in Guatemala (1954). It argues that the Eisenhower administration, driven by intense anti-communism and influenced by corporate interests, used covert operations to overthrow democratically elected leaders Mohammad Mossadegh and Jacobo Arbenz. Both leaders pursued nationalist reforms that threatened powerful foreign companies—Anglo-Iranian Oil in Iran and United Fruit in Guatemala—while being falsely portrayed as communist threats. The paper details how the CIA employed propaganda, bribery, disinformation, political manipulation, and paramilitary force to engineer coups. Schewel contends that these interventions produced long-term instability, dictatorship, violence, and anti-American sentiment, including the rise of the Iranian Revolution and decades of civil conflict in Guatemala, demonstrating the enduring consequences of covert U.S. foreign policy.
