Having barely noticed in its first few years that foreign policy actually exists, the leftist magazine, the American Prospect, runs a splendidly honest piece about the anti-war demonstrations I also witnessed this weekend. I like this sentence: “We shouldn’t expect much charity toward the president from protesters capable of airing slogans like “The Real Terrorist Works in the White House.” I consider George W. Bush a dim bulb, even an impostor — and certainly oppose many aspects of his foreign policy — but calling him a terrorist is a truly vile form of moral equivalency.” I know this shouldn’t be a hard call, but, hey, it’s progress.
SONTAG AWARD NOMINEE: “In a war on Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden will either be left alive, while thousands of impoverished, frightened people are bombed into oblivion around him, or he will be killed in a bombing attack for which he seems quite prepared. But what would happen to his cool armor if he could be reminded of all the good, nonviolent things he has done? Further, what would happen to him if he could be brought to understand the preciousness of the lives he has destroyed? I firmly believe the only punishment that works is love.” – Alice Walker, Village Voice. Just give that old Osama a big ol’ hug. But what exactly are the “good, nonviolent things” he has done?
THE FIRST FAKED ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIME: It had to happen, but this soon? Here’s the first report of the incident; and here’s the truth. I’ve no doubt that some Arab-Americans are being targeted for despicable abuse, although the evidence so far seems mercifully thin – which is an enormous credit to the people of this country and to the president who has admirably spoken out against discrimination. But equally, it doesn’t surprise me that this happened on a campus. The highest status imaginable among the left-marinated universities is ethnic victimization. No surprise that some poor souls are trying to exploit that warped value-system.
HALBERSTAM ABSOLVES CLINTON: Interesting insight into the minds of some liberals who simply will not acknowledge that Bill Clinton bears a great deal of responsibility for the failures of U.S. foreign policy, security and intelligence in the 1990s. In Salon, David Halberstam blames himself (fair enough) and other journalists (I’m happy to beat my breast as well) but he won’t finger Clinton. This despite this anecdote from his new book: “The most telling story is about Clinton’s election in 1992 right before he was inaugurated. He comes to Washington to meet with the House Democratic chairmen. When he gets to Lee Hamilton of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hamilton says, “Well, Mr. President, we have China. Whatever you do on China, you’re only going to please half the people. Then, there’s Saddam Hussein … ” Clinton interrupts him and says, “Lee, I’ve been traveling around our country for a year and no one cares about foreign policy other than about six journalists.” Hamilton is taken aback and replies, “That may be true, but the last presidents have been defined by foreign affairs.”” When pushed by Salon to acknowledge that a president might actually be required to lead the people, rather than follow them, Halberstam simply stammers: “In essence, Clinton reflected the national mood. Had there been one more term, had he not been pulled down by the Lewinsky thing, thereby losing two years of his second term, it might have been different.” Of course, in this, Halberstam reflects the view of the Clintonites that the president had no responsibility for the appalling trauma he put the country through in 1998 – just while Osama bin Laden’s plot was thickening. Some things never change.
The Dish 