September 25, 2004
Winston Review, No. 12
"I can't, of course, get out of my mind the fact that I physically met President George Bush for the first time on the 10th of September, 2001 at the White House. And as I think back over the agenda for the discussions that day there wasn't anything on it that I could honestly now, even with the most, you know, liberal interpretation and recollection the passage of time gives you, suggest that we had focused, either of us, on what was about to overcome us. So we do…and the point of all of that is that we do live in a very different world and it's a world that's going to be very different for us for a very long period of time and it's important that we all recognise that."
- John Howard
Charles Krauthammer points to a crucial election in Australia, America's only ally "to have joined the United States in the foxhole in every war in the past 100 years." Australia has not only endured an attack meant to alter the course of that election (snaps to Spanish weakness) but must suffer Senator Kerry's opinion they brought this attack upon themselves.
The Economist argues Australia's election results may turn on the possibility of rising interest rates. If only every free election in the world could be decided on such everyday concerns. If only we could engage in debate about the pros and cons of taxation and investment policy, changing ideas about marriage and family and different approaches to health care and education provision secure in the knowledge that no matter who prevailed a government would come into power that would protect us from a common fascist enemy. For many of us these debates have been negated. Not by terror itself. Certainly not by taking the fight to those who would slaughter us all. Negated instead in the utter abdication of the fight out of nihilism, wishful thinking and cowardice on the part of politicians and opportunists who deny us the luxury of honest disagreement in less pressing matters. Shamefully, these same opportunists would pretend there is no danger even as they claim to represent those who should know best the consequences for women, gay people and religious minorities to name only the first victims of the Shadow in its theocratic guise.
The Winston Review is a Flea-feature intended to offer spirited, uplifting alternatives to the defeatists and apologists of the mainstream media. This week's Review salutes John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia. Mr. Howard, would that our Prime Minister shared your resolve.
This week in the Red Box:
Mordor: this Belmont Club post of March 26, 2004 considers "two great religious totalitarianisms -- one secular only in name and the other religious only in dissimulation."
Fahrenheit 9/11: Iraq the Model reviews Michael Moore's film (via ˇNo Pasarán!).
Or maybe it is an Indian fight: Jonah Goldberg offers an NRO reader email.
The U.N.? Who Cares?: Victor Davis Hanson argues "the U.N. is not the idealistic postwar organization of our collective Unicef and Unesco nostalgia, the old perpetual force for good that we once associated with hunger relief and peacekeeping. Its membership is instead rife with tyrannies, theocracies and Stalinist regimes." This should be obvious (via mypetjawa).
For me, choice for president is clear: former United States Senator, Mark O. Hatfield explains why, despite the record of his thirty years in the Senate, he will vote for President Bush in November (via Kate McMillan posting at The Shotgun).
Kerry smeared a hero: my dad: In Bill's World points to a letter published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via lgf). A comment to the post lead me to investigate why Vietnamese Americans, while likely to describe their politics as "middle of the road", overwhelmingly support the re-election of President Bush.
Fresh hostilities don't alter the justice of deposing Saddam: John Keegan castigates "that tiresome but increasingly numerous tribe who seem to think that men are made for laws and not laws for men."
Self-Defense Forces in Iraq: Mongai Moments argues "the U.S.-Japan strategic alliance is alive and well. Unlike other so-called alliances" (via InstaPundit). A linked article by Hisahiko Okazaki drawing parallels to Japan's post-war experience is particularly apt.
A New Socialism Is Born!: NetWar writes that reading a Time Magazine interview with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero "felt like following Alice to the other side of the mirror" (hat tip to Stygius).
Treachery: Outside The Beltway reviews Bill Gertz' new book, Treachery: How America's Friends and Foes Are Secretly Arming Our Enemies (via mypetjawa).
Hidden Agenda Uncovered: Damian Penny is outed for his pro-Israel views. Shocking!
When to hold'em: Thomas F. Powers argues the United States should "detain suspected terrorists—even if it can't make a case against them in court."
Hundreds of Planes: Small Dead Animals quotes Ghost Soldiers and considers the lessons of Palawan.
The Yellow Badge of Courage: Chris Taylor eviscerates Canada's Prime Minister. This needed to be said. Each and every word of it (via North Western Winds).
Your courage. Your cheerfulness. Your resolution.
Will bring us Victory.
Robert Kaplan has an article about that on the WSJ opinion site.
Posted by: Ben at September 25, 2004 12:38 PMThanks, Ben. Fascinating piece by Kaplan. One thought: McDonald's and Christina Aguilera may do the same job as the settlers once did.
Posted by: Flea at September 25, 2004 12:49 PMI went to Loblaws this morning and bought Australian brown rice. Glad to support the economy.
Posted by: Alan at September 25, 2004 01:27 PM Thanks for linking up to my site the other day.
I'll be dropping in now and then, not just for the pictures, your writing is crisp and sometimes like a dagger. The world needs a bit more of this.