Month: February 2005

Israel, to a greater degree than most democracies, is a cauldron of animosities and a clash of civilizations. This is because of the devoutness and passion with which the opposing groups cling to their beliefs. It is often said that politics is the art of compromise. When political factions display diametrical intransigence, violence breaks out. … Continue reading “Messy Messianism”

“In all fairness, the NYT apparently allows its columnists freedom in choosing their material, including Paul Krugman, Bob Herbert, and Frank Rich. But remember, it’s the front page headlines and stories that have an impact in Washington, D.C.” ~Buzzflash Most Americans sympathize with parents who’ve lost their children, especially when those losses are said to … Continue reading “Token Balance”

Controversial anti-immigration provisions that were stripped from an intelligence bill last year have resurfaced as the "Real ID Act," setting the stage for a partisan fight in Congress that could affect the cases of thousands of asylum-seekers. Authored by the powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a conservative republican from Wisconsin, … Continue reading “Anti-Terror Bill Targets Asylum Seekers”

Perhaps you’ve been wondering how this passage about Iran crept into President Bush’s 2005 State of the Union Address (SOTU): "Today, Iran remains the world’s primary sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian … Continue reading “The Impossible Dream in the SOTU”

It is good that the Iraqis have elected a government, even if it’s temporary. It is the third temporary government since the U.S. invasion. The United States appointed the first two; this one, at least, was chosen by the Iraqi people. Before you join the television chirpies celebrating this "historic" event, you would be wise … Continue reading “The Real Test of Iraqi Freedom”

Curiosity may occasionally kill a cat. But lack of curiosity is apt to terminate journalism with extreme prejudice. “We will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq, because that would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us out,” President Bush said in his State of the Union address. “We are … Continue reading “The Media on Iraq:
Too Much Stenography, Not Enough Curiosity”

Let the Israelis Do It? Look, is it too much to ask that Gordon Prather refrain from using the phrase “go-anywhere, see-anything” in reference to his endlessly rehashing the details of the current situation with Iran and the IAEA inspections? I’m very sympathetic regarding the situation with Iran, but the statement seems to indicate that … Continue reading “Backtalk, February 5, 2005”

There’s little point in denying, as some people were wont to do, that the election in Iraq on Sunday was a significant step toward the possibility of a reasonably stable Iraq. It went better than almost everybody except the most optimistic of observers expected. While the outcome could be the beginning of a genuine political … Continue reading “Now for the Hard Part”

Clearly buoyed by Sunday’s election in Iraq, a confident George W. Bush told the nation that the Middle East will dominate U.S. foreign policy during his second term as president, just as his proposals to privatize the 70-year-old U.S. Social Security system will be his top priority at home. In a nearly hour-long State of … Continue reading “A Triumphant Bush Pledges More, More, More”

In the spy business, “blowback” is a term used to describe unintended negative consequences of actions taken by intelligence agencies to advance national interests. The phrase was allegedly coined by spooks at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to refer to an agent, an operative, or an operation that turned on its creator. Indeed, given prior … Continue reading “Don’t Expect Shi’ites to Toe American Line”