My biggest project this year is to compose a thesis before May 16. It's a requirement for everyone in the political science honors program at the University of Washington.

The puzzle I chose is: "why did the United States invade Iraq in 2003?" It's a hot topic, and something everyone has an opinion on, but my goal is to analyze (and better understand) it in the framework of international relations theory.

My hunch is that traditional international relations theories will not be sufficient to explain this invasion. I think the Iraq War is a unique case in world politics, because it was waged by the first benign international hegemon in history. Unique cases require unique theoretical perspectives, and the traditional "structural realist" explanations for why states go to war carry necessary, but not sufficient explanatory power.

My intuition is that somewhere in the equation is the role of particular assumptions about the reliability of deterrence and the psychological affects that September 11th had on President Bush and his administration.

My project is to organize this intuition into some sort of cohesive thesis. I've got probably 30 books laying on my couch that I'm about to dive into. Sadly, this means less time for games and probably no time to work again, which I really wanted to start this quarter, because I'd like some money for games and hangin' out with friends.

This blog has had almost nothing to do with games, so if you bothered to read through this babble, I appreciate it.

I'm just writing my thoughts down as psychological preparation for what's to come in the next couple months. Wish me luck :)