Victor Davis Hanson writes about the other European volcano, the social, economic and political volcano that could erupt with consequences even more devastating than the recent Icelandic eruption.

Is the Trans-Atlantic era over in world political affairs? I suspect an examination of present trends will not reveal the truth of what will happen in the world over the next several decades. Even the world's smartest scholars and politicians sitting in their armchairs smoking their cigars in May of 1910 could not possibly imagine what the world would look like in May of 1920, although they tried, and not one got it right. Present trends did not continue, at least not the visible trends. When they looked out at the grand funeral procession for King Edward VII that same month, and saw all the Kings, Kaisers, Czars, Emperors, Princes and Potentates, they could not imagine that so many would not sit on their thrones just ten years later, that so many empires would fall, after four years of unprecedented bloodletting. They did not know the name of Lenin, or the word 'Bolshevik', or fear the color red, although they would know it only too well in May of 1920. And in May of 1920 those scholars did not know the name of Hitler, nor could they imagine the Nazis, though they would know it in May of 1930, and would watch Hitler's armies conquer France in six weeks starting in May of 1940. Present trends, my friends, do not continue.

Dan Henninger says the GOP should position itself as the 'we're not Europe' party.

Karl Rove examines the political climate leading up to the elections in November, and it still does not look good for the Democrats.

Claire Berlinski wonders why no one seems interested in reading the Soviet archives. Perhaps it is because there are too many Leftist politicians and media folks still sympathetic with Soviet aims, and too many whose own participation as fellow travellers would be revealed if the archives were translated and widely available.

Benny Avni says the UN won't be able to stop Iran's nuclear program.

Paul Krugman says we are not Greece as he argues for the welfare state.

Perhaps we should get ready for the collapse of North Korea.