Month: July 2005

The wisdom of Clarence

In It’s a Wonderful Life the angel Clarence says that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. It seems to me that every time an American political partisan lies about Guantanamo, a suicide bomber gets his vest. Given Juan Cole’s recent statement about jihadi software, I don’t think this is far from … Continue reading “The wisdom of Clarence”

In It’s a Wonderful Life the angel Clarence says that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. It seems to me that every time an American political partisan lies about Guantanamo, a suicide bomber gets his vest. Given Juan Cole’s recent statement about jihadi software, I don’t think this is far from the mark.

Another New York Times columnist in trouble

Krugman colleague Nick Kristoff has to face libel charges after all, per an Appeals Court decision in the Hatfill case: A.T.C.F.k.: They laughed when kf argued that the New York Times was “massively exposed” in the Steven Hatfill libel suit against op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof. … They paid no attention when, after a lower-court federal … Continue reading “Another New York Times columnist in trouble”

Krugman colleague Nick Kristoff has to face libel charges after all, per an Appeals Court decision in the Hatfill case:

A.T.C.F.k.: They laughed when kf argued that the New York Times was “massively exposed” in the Steven Hatfill libel suit against op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof. … They paid no attention when, after a lower-court federal judge threw the Hatfill suit out, kf wrote:

Maybe I’m missing something, but if I were Kristof, I wouldn’t crow too loudly. Lower court decisions are made to be reversed. …

They are not laughing now! Haftill’s suit has been reinstated on appeal. … P.S.: Kristof reported that Hatfill had “failed three successive polygraph examinations” in connection with the anthrax mailings of 2001. How could that, if it isn’t true, not be libelous? … 11:23 P.M.

We predict Kristoff and the Times will lose big. Kristoff’s slander of Hatfill was mean-spirited, beyond the pale, and generally bogus.

Krugman’s French Connection

Today’s Krugman column about the French Utopia is hilariously bad: French people, don’t fret. Things are going well. Just read Paul Krugman’s column in the New York Times and you’ll see that your stagnant ecomomy is actually doing great … even if you can’t find a job! You’ll also learn that Krugman assumes you’re happy … Continue reading “Krugman’s French Connection”

Today’s Krugman column about the French Utopia is hilariously bad:

French people, don’t fret. Things are going well. Just read Paul Krugman’s column in the New York Times and you’ll see that your stagnant ecomomy is actually doing great … even if you can’t find a job!

You’ll also learn that Krugman assumes you’re happy — even when you tell pollsters you’re not.

Krugman kicks off today’s column with a demonstration of what to do when you can’t get your desired result using one set of metrics. Change them!

Krugman is the classic example of the ravages of Bush Derangement Syndrome.

German election coming

The German election coming next month (probably) is a high-stakes gamble for Schroeder, who forced an early election in hopes of retaining power in the face of mounting criticism of his management of the economy. With the repudiation of Chirac by his voters on the EU constitution ringing in his ears, Schroeder no doubt hears … Continue reading “German election coming”

The German election coming next month (probably) is a high-stakes gamble for Schroeder, who forced an early election in hopes of retaining power in the face of mounting criticism of his management of the economy. With the repudiation of Chirac by his voters on the EU constitution ringing in his ears, Schroeder no doubt hears a death-knell sounding for his Red-Green coalition. Some wags predict an outright victory for the pro-American Christian Democratic Union of Angela Merkel, and others speculate about an unholy alliance between the CDU and Schroeder’s SPD. Either way, it’s most likely compost time for the Greens.

Deutsche Welle has some background.

Winning the war on terror

Juan Cole is pretty much a worthless twit. He’s a Middle East scholar, but he’s so dishonest that his scholarly insights don’t amount to anything. But he occasionally screws up and says something worthwhile in the course of delivering his anti-American and anti-Bush rants. He lapses into good sense for a few paragraphs in the … Continue reading “Winning the war on terror”

Juan Cole is pretty much a worthless twit. He’s a Middle East scholar, but he’s so dishonest that his scholarly insights don’t amount to anything. But he occasionally screws up and says something worthwhile in the course of delivering his anti-American and anti-Bush rants. He lapses into good sense for a few paragraphs in the top entry on his blog today, when he explores the common thread uniting the UK terror-bombers:

What then do they have in common? They got the software installed in their minds. Why? Because they met the installer, and were susceptible to his worldview. That’s all they have in common…

The software is of course a hugely distorted view of the universe. It lets the young man see Israeli atrocities, but not those of Hamas or the Aqsa Brigades. It lets him see American atrocities but not those of Saddam Hussein, Izzedin al-Duri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The software is fatally one-sided. It also exaggerates. The Muslim world is not in danger of being destroyed, least of all by the United States, a warm friend of most Muslim countries. But the software configures a dire crisis, almost apocalyptic, which can only be averted by an ethical hero who is willing to sacrifice himself. The software hides from the convert that he is to become a monster and kill innocents. It tells him he is a noble soldier, and his victims are wicked enemy soldiers, that there are no innocent civilians.

So how do you fight this form of terror? You disrupt the installation of the software in more and more minds. You adopt policies that make the story the software tells implausible. And you reach out to make sure people hear the implausibility.

Of course, his solution is only part of the story: you also have to be prepared to kill them before they can kill you, because you’re never going to completely prevent the software from being installed anywhere at all. Some people are just plain crazy.

The thing I find interesting about this post is the fact that at least some of this distorted software is produced by the elitist, anti-American and anti-Western elements of the mainstream media, from people like, well, Cole, who insist on spinning Western policies in a devious light. I don’t think he meant to ‘fess up to his role.

Cole’s analysis suggests that those of us who do intellectual battle with the propagandists of terror are helping, in our small way, to win this war. That shouldn’t be overlooked.

Nostalgic for the Great Depression

Thomas Frank, the populist who wrote a book claiming that the people are hopelessly stupid, is quite mysteriously nostalgic for the glorious day when Democrats had ideas: Democrats, I always point out, used to have a really quality identity: They were the party that believed we could do something about the world around us; that … Continue reading “Nostalgic for the Great Depression”

Thomas Frank, the populist who wrote a book claiming that the people are hopelessly stupid, is quite mysteriously nostalgic for the glorious day when Democrats had ideas:

Democrats, I always point out, used to have a really quality identity: They were the party that believed we could do something about the world around us; that we could use the state and other institutions to achieve economic security, to win “freedom from want.” Beginning in the 1930s, they were the party of mastery over drift.

Times of overwhelming economic insecurity like the present ought to be times when Democrats of this variety prosper, when their values and their message find enthusiastic audiences around the country. And, indeed, polls confirm that the public strongly supports key elements of old-style Democratic program, national health insurance, good schools, etc. But Dems aren’t prospering. Why not? Because, I think, too many Democrats are unwilling to embrace their dynamic heritage.

But nobody else looks for a return to the Great Depression, so following this reasoning is a prescription for failure on the part of the Dems.

(note: He’s doing this today because I wacked him good yesterday.)

IRA orders end to terrorism

The IRA claims to have given up on its terrorism campaign, ordering its jihadis to stand down: Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister, said the British and Irish governments had worked for 11 years for today’s outcome. He said: “The war is over, the IRA’s armed campaign is over, paramilitarism is over and I believe … Continue reading “IRA orders end to terrorism”

The IRA claims to have given up on its terrorism campaign, ordering its jihadis to stand down:

Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister, said the British and Irish governments had worked for 11 years for today’s outcome. He said: “The war is over, the IRA’s armed campaign is over, paramilitarism is over and I believe that we can look to the future of peace and prosperity based on mutual trust and reconciliation and a final end to violence.”

Mr Ahern added: “If the IRA words are borne out by the verified action it will be a momentous and a very historic development.”

Mr Adams called it an “emotional day” and, flanked by senior members of Sinn Féin, spoke directly to IRA volunteers, telling them: “National liberation struggles have different phases – a time for struggle … a time for war, and also a time to engage, to put the war behind us all – this is that time.”

I’ll believe it when I see it, but meanwhile those who supported the terrorist campaign by raising money in the US (Ted Kennedy, Tom Hayden, Peter King) still need to be prosecuted.

Breathing down the necks of the Angels

With yesterday’s victory by the A’s and loss by the evil Anaheims, our boys are only four games out of first place. This is a milestone because it puts them in single-series range of the bad guys. Their best pitcher couldn’t beat the Blue Jays, and the A’s best is starting at home against the … Continue reading “Breathing down the necks of the Angels”

With yesterday’s victory by the A’s and loss by the evil Anaheims, our boys are only four games out of first place. This is a milestone because it puts them in single-series range of the bad guys. Their best pitcher couldn’t beat the Blue Jays, and the A’s best is starting at home against the Tigers Friday. By this time next week, the scales of justice could once more be in balance.

In other sports news, you can forget about the Detroit Pistons next year: Larry Brown is officially with the Knicks.

Air America steals from the poor

I can’t say I find this very surprising: Air America is being investigated in New York for diverting federal/local funds–possibly “hundreds of thousands of dollars”–meant for inner-city kids and senior into the station’s coffers. It follows the same pattern as VAWA (post below): progressive activists enriching themselves at the expense of the downtrodden. It’s inhumane.

I can’t say I find this very surprising:

Air America is being investigated in New York for diverting federal/local funds–possibly “hundreds of thousands of dollars”–meant for inner-city kids and senior into the station’s coffers.

It follows the same pattern as VAWA (post below): progressive activists enriching themselves at the expense of the downtrodden.

It’s inhumane.