Monday, September 16, 2002

Out of the Mouths of Babes... Out of the Mouths of Babes... I love the Wall St. Journal.  I think it is one of the best papers in America, because its editors feel so free to write things as they see them.  Business cannot get far without understanding the reality of markets and competition, and those who only see things as they wish--the politicians and ideologues--generally set themselves up for failure. So it was with some relish that I read the following quote from Journal editor Mark Helprin today (sorry for the subscription link): It is delusional for this nation, which cannot summon the will even to inspect the baggage in its airplanes, to believe it is capable of remaking the Arab world by reforming its governments, politics, and culture after an imagined conquest by small expeditionary forces equipped with revolutionary weapons that do not yet exist in full. His article was titled "Failing the Test Of September 11" and he excoriated Bush for failing to put the nation on a war footing, and for not making Saudi Arabia a more explicit enemy. Halprin's point was that Bush has not prepared the U.S. for real war, and so is setting himself up for failure. The other thing I liked in the Journal today was their attempts to report on the impact of the war on oil, but to try and avoid saying that oil was the true casus belli.  In the editorial on "Saddam's Oil", the Journal writers went through gyrations to explain that the war should not really cause oil prices to spike, and then concluded with these wonderful lines. All of which is another way of saying that the best way to keep oil prices in check is a short, successful war on Iraq that begins sooner rather than later. We aren't suggesting the U.S. should go to war to get cheaper oil. Only that as long as uncertainty continues, the greater the possibility that economists will have to put another recession associated with $30 oil into their mug's game. Finally, Lewis Lapham, the editor of Harper's, who is a long time truth teller was on the local NPR station this evening, talking about his new book Theater of War.  I didn't hear the whole conversation, but two points he made really struck me.  One was that Bush is so backward looking.  All his ideas about security come from the age of imperialism and the cold war.  The second point was how democracies can evolve into oligarchies, as a select group gains inordinate power.  He makes the point that we are close to an oligarchy in America today.  It made me want to read his book. 11:45:03 PM   comment []

© Copyright 2002 Toby Sackton. Last update: 12/26/2002; 9:30:19 PM.