Reasons To Like Politicians
For years now, Christopher Hitchens’ writing on and from the Middle East has displayed a humanity lacking in many other commentators. While skimming his enjoyably vitriolic Reagan obit, I noticed this interesting and persuasive defense of Ahmed Chalabi.
I don’t know the specifics of the Chalabi case – which is to say I know many mutually contradictory things – but I’m generally well-disposed towards the guy because he has a mathematics Ph.D. Liberal, relatively secular, a democrat – all of these are a good start, but a math Ph.D. really wins me over.
This is also worth a look during the afternoon foreign policy break.
So sensitive, Tim! You certainly won’t be alone writing nasty things about Hitch, though, that’s for sure.
Bill: I saw nothing particularly bizarre about the piece. (Unless the fact that he didn’t like Reagan counts as bizarre?) The conclusion is important, I think.
Remind me to write nasty things about Hitch if he ever dies, I might at least wait until the corpse is cold.
Okay, you’re right. Also, he has good taste in suits. You can’t argue with class.
Passing secrets to Iran? Well, that’s one thing. But for God’s sake, Bill, the guy has a Ph.D. in math. Are you saying that doesn’t just give you a deep-down friendly feeling?
Agreed. That article came several days after I had decided to write off Chalabi, though it is fairly persuasive. But I still don’t know what I think, particularly in light of news that he may have passed secrets to Iran. Because the U.S. government conceded that the investigation centered around whether one of its own got hammered and told Chalabi about breaking Iran’s secret codes — then again, this may be due to my own personal experience — I’m taking that allegation seriously.
Regardless — or “irregardless,” as Tony Soprano would say — it’s still much better argued than his bizarre anti-Reagan screed from this week.