I’ve written before about Peter Braestrup’s book Big Story: How the American Press and Television Reported and Interpreted the Crisis of Tet 1968 in Vietnam and Washington. It describes how the media got the Tet Offensive wrong. Braestrup’s conclusion is … Continue reading →
I wondered about it a few days ago: what’s to stop the terrorists/jihadis/insurgents in Iraq from running away in the face of the proposed surge, and living to fight another day? The answer seems to be “nothing, at least for … Continue reading →
Recommended reading on a Sunday: this article by Barry Casselman, comparing Bush and his new proposals for the Iraq war to the situation Lincoln faced in the spring before the 1864 election. Bush, Lincoln–huh? you say. Well, read it. Casselman … Continue reading →
This is the sort of story that can easily make any parent’s–or nearly any human being’s–eyes mist up. I know it did mine. One of the worst things on earth to imagine–and, fortunately, for most parents, it’s an event that … Continue reading →
Who’s Nyamko Sabuni? She’s the new Swedish Minister for Integration and Gender Equality. Sounds awfully PC, doesn’t it? But Sabuni is anything but. In fact, she’s already raised a storm of controversy in Sweden with her statements on the subject … Continue reading →
The news is replete with stories about how the Democrats and some moderate Republicans are against Bush’s “surge.” And many articles also suggest that Congress might even be prepared to cut off funding for the military, or specific funding for … Continue reading →
I could probably spend all my time on this blog just analyzing the myriad variations on one theme: how the MSM skews the news by editorializing when it should just be reporting. Sometimes it’s done overtly. Far more often, though, … Continue reading →
This is my question: doesn’t a speech like Bush’s, in which a strategic plan is outlined, give the enemy the advantage of knowing in advance what the approach will be, and take away any element of surprise? True, the details … Continue reading →
[NOTE: The full text of Bush’s speech can be found here.] Bush’s speech last night was a tight and subdued performance in terms of rhetoric and delivery. But, what else is new? Although a Churchillian sweep and grandeur would be … Continue reading →
Sophia Loren’s husband Carlo Ponti has died at the age of 94 (hat tip: Pajamas Media). Sophia made my list of ten all-time favorite movie stars back in May of 2005. She was (well, I suppose she still is, but … Continue reading →
Here’s a wonderful headline that caught my eye, from, of all things, the Voice of America: “Some Iraqis express doubts about new US strategy.” Why, goodness gracious me my, they do? I’m so astonished I hardly know where to begin. … Continue reading →
In this story about how bloggers won’t let go of the controversy over the existence of quoted AP source Jamil Hussein, Maria Aspen writes (in the business section of the NY Times): In a reference to a memorable swipe that … Continue reading →