The world according to ... Peter Arnett?

Well, it looks as if Peter Arnett has finally been recognized for what he is, and America-hating Kiwi who's been playing both sides against the middle for more than a decade. For those who don't know, Iraqi state TV ran an interview with Arnett, who said that the Pentagon';s war strategy is a "failure" (transcript here). Here's the money quote:

In answer to your question, it is clear that within the United States there is growing challenge to President Bush about the conduct of the war and also opposition to the war. So our reports about civilian casualties here, about the resistance of the Iraqi forces, are going back to the United States. It helps those who oppose the war when you challenge the policy to develop their arguments.

Now, before anybody starts screaming about giving "aid and comfort to the enemy", remember, he's not an American; he can go back to New Zealand and be welcomed as a hero. That stated, he'll probably have to, as word comes today that Arnett has been shit-canned by both NBC and MSNBC.

So where exactly is Saddam?

Who the hell knows? Dr. S and I had a sprawling conversation yesterday, a percentage of which contained a discussion of exactly this question.

James S. Robbins of the National Review Online ponders this query as well. the money graf:

Nevertheless, if Saddam is dead, why are the Iraqis fighting back? If one of his sons or underlings has taken control, why not announce it and fight on under new management or, to avoid further difficulties, cut a deal? Is the terror bureaucracy of the regime on autopilot? No doubt it can function well that way. On the other hand, maybe the commanders keep Saddam �alive� because no matter what happens in coming days they can blame it on him?

The regime on autopilot? Based on what I see pouring our of my cable box, that's where I'd put my money.

The next development

Look to see the Iraqi National Congress recieving more and more face time soon. Smart money says they annouce they are the legitimate goverment of Iraq sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Jonah Nails it

Jonah Goldberg is a genius untainted by politically correct 70s and 80s. His piece today is a marvelous take that follows up nicely to Ralph Peter's analysis in yesterday's posts. Taken together, they explain a whole lot about The Arab World is such a basketcase.

31 Mar 03 dpny

Frank Talk about the Arab World

I was going to write a screed about the complete intellectual bankrupcy of the Arab world, but Ralph Peters does a magnificent job in his column today. No point in screaming "me too".

The blonds of Fox News

I would never have thought to do this, but some cat created a page dedicated to all the blonds on FNC. Maybe that's the reason for their smashing ratings success.

Not in Whose Name?

Loyal readers know my opinion about Andrew Sullivan and that I think he's a genius of the first magnatude. That stated, he has a link from of London that absolutely hammers a big segment of the anit-war movement. Money grafs:

I've just heard a snippet of the most disgustingly me-me-me anti-war advert by Susan Sarandon, in which she intones, "Before our kids start coming home from Iraq in body bags, and women and children start dying in Baghdad, I need to know - what did Iraq do to us?" Well, if you mean what did Saddam do to America The Beautiful, not an awful lot - but to millions of his own people, torture and murder for a start. Don't they count?

Surely this is the most self-obsessed anti-war protest ever. NOT IN MY NAME! That's the giveaway. Who gives a stuff about their wet, white, western names? See how they write them so solemnly in a list on the bottom of the letters they send to the papers. And the ones that add their brats' names are the worst - a grotesque spin on Baby On Board, except they think that this gives them extra humanity points not just on the motorway, but in the whole wide weeping, striving, yearning world. We don't know the precious names of the countless numbers Saddam has killed. We're talking about a people - lots of them parents - subjected to an endless vista of death and torture, a country in which freedom can never be won without help from outside.

Wow. Good stuff.

30 Mar 03 dpny