Mea Culpa, Mea Media Culpa
What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again.
Italics his; bolding mine. It’s not exact: 9/11 has also made us cowardly and mean in addition to stupid. But it’s getting there, and he seems willing to accept that his own part was blameworthy. I don’t know if he realizes or can let himself realize just how important he was to undermining liberal resistance to the Iraq War. The Mount Rushmore of liberal hawkery is him, Tony Blair, Ken Pollack and Colin Powell. These four men did an awful lot to make the war possible, and only the last has come close to assuming the becoming silence appropriate to all of them.
But it’s better than nothing! We’ll see where Friedman goes with it. Will he make as energetic and sweeping efforts at redemption as Andrew Sullivan has? Like it or not, Friedman is a more important cultural figure than Sullivan or most anybody.
Perhaps even David Ignatius will one day look in the mirror and realize that he used to be a lot smarter than 9/11 made him.
Via Atrios, who’s just not as forgiving as I am . . .
Comment by srv —
September 30, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
If only we could torture them as much as their logic has tortured the world.
Comment by just sayin —
September 30, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
So what’s he plan to do to prevent the coming war with Iran?
Comment by Thoreau —
September 30, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
So what’s he plan to do to prevent the coming war with Iran?
Friedman in 5 years: “You have to understand, watching Ahmadinejad give a speech without interference just made us all kind of stupid.”
Comment by Thoreau —
September 30, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
BTW, we need to wait and see whether Friedman’s change of heart actually sticks. The next six months will be crucial…
Comment by Mona —
September 30, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Absolutely. The man’s whole reputation depends on that unit. He who lives by the standard, dies by it (as so many others literally have).
Comment by Zack —
September 30, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
I saw Friedman on The Colbert Report recently and Stephen Colbert asked me about the next 6 months being crucial. Friedman replied that it was no more, we don’t have any more time, what’s done is done.
Comment by Zack —
September 30, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Here’s the video of the Friedman interview.
PS. Why is Unqualified Offerings running on Central Time?
Comment by Lawrence Krubner —
October 1, 2007 @ 2:43 am
“Why is Unqualified Offerings running on Central Time?”
Highclearing is hosted through Halfprice Hosting which probably has a data center in the Central Zone.
Comment by Donald Johnson —
October 1, 2007 @ 5:39 am
I just watched the Colbert interview. At the very end, Colbert asks Friedman when the West brought democracy to India. Friedman took it as a straight question and answered ” The 19th and 20th Century.”
Comment by Michael —
October 1, 2007 @ 7:06 am
As a liberal, I’m not sure why you’d place Colin Powell on our team. I’m not saying he’s a conservative ideologue, but he’s definitely to the right of liberal.
Mostly what’s he’s been is a member of the Bush machine.
Comment by Jim Henley —
October 1, 2007 @ 7:12 am
Not calling Colin Powell himself a liberal, Michael.
Comment by Barry —
October 1, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Correct; Colin Powell was Gen. Wise and Sensible.
Comment by Happy Jack —
October 1, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Will he make as energetic and sweeping efforts at redemption as Andrew Sullivan has?
I hope you’re referring to Iraq. When it comes to the IslamoFascistMenace, his diaper might appear dry now, but as a father, let’s just say I recognize the potty dance when I see it.