The New Republican: Ipse Dixit

The liberal magazine The New Republic has come up with a new reason for voting against Bush: he's not a good conservative.

Well, any port in a storm. Of course, it's not a new observation either. Back in August, a liberal friend e-mailed me an article from the New York Press by William Bryk, titled The Conservative Case Against Bush.

Now The New Republic takes its turn (October 25, 2004 print issue: "Conscientious Objector" by Michael A. George, p. 20.) The tactic is a pretty familiar one: "See, one of THEM doesn't like him either." You give your case more impact (the thinking goes) by bringing out a real live one of whatever group it is you're targeting. If you want to attack Israel, you bring out a real live Jew to condemn the Jewish state (a ploy that too many real live Jews are willing to go along with). And if you want to attack Bush, what better way than to produce a real live conservative who will come out and say ... what?

He'll say that Bush is no conservative.

Well, hell, I coulda told you that.

The New Republic could have told you that, too, and in fact they did. Back in March of 2003, TNR published a magnificent issue on the topic of "Liberalism and American Power" (March 3), which included Lawrence F. Kaplan's piece on p. 21, titled "Bush, closet liberal." Now Robert George discovers that "initiating a war to 'liberate' an entire region far from our shores can hardly be called a conservative cause." (Mr. George might want to review Leon Wieseltier's helpful guide to political debate in the November 1 TNR, where Wieseltier explains, "you do not refute a proposition by putting inverted commas around it." But I digress.)

The conservative case against Bush is fair enough (if a bit familiar, by now, to anyone who's actually been awake for the last couple of years): he's certainly no fiscal conservative; the Patriot Act scarcely qualifies as "small government"; and, oh yes, conservatives don't launch wars of liberation (or "liberation" if you prefer). Well, for the sake of argument, let us agree that Bush stands guilty as charged.

So what does this real live, real conservative do, now that he's realized he cannot vote for Bush? He doesn't say whether he's voting for Kerry, or staying home. "Of course," he adds, "a conservative can still cast a libertarian vote on principle."

This business of voting "on principle" is a fine bit of chutzpah from the magazine that rails, yet again, against the "irresponsible" Ralph Nader on p. 12 of the very same issue (Ryan Lizza, "Sole Influence"). The Nader article is unitntentionally revealing: Lizza writes that "From Moveon.org to the Howard Dean campaign to the liberal blogosphere to Air America radio to new think tanks sprouting up around Washington, D.C., an entire network of exactly the kind of activists that Nader has long praised is suddenly being born. Their singular goal is to defeat Bush." Exactly: they lack a coherent vision, unifying principles, or any positive ideology; their singular goal is "to defeat Bush."

President Bush has succeeded in retaining as much popular support as he has - despite some highly controversial decisions - precisely because he appeals to a wide variety of Americans: traditional conservatives, neoconservatives, centrists, and even liberals. Bush's supporters may differ on a host of less important issues, but they are united, both in principle and in practice, on the things that matter most. His opponents are united only in the fact of their opposition to Bush; so it is inevitable that the single uniting symbol for them is their presidential candidate: that perfect vacuum of a man known as John Kerry.

Iranian Unrest; Regime Bases

A news release on Free Iran reported on the IRI's outposts in western Iran:

'Baghdad, Oct. 8 – Crack troops of the Qods Force (Jerusalem Force), the extraterritorial force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, operating out of their base in the border town of Mehran, have seized Iraqi territories in Zeyn al-Qos, Seif Sa’ad and al-Amarah regions, according to reports from the area.

In recent months, forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have moved their main headquarters from central Iranian provinces to those on the Iran-Iraq border. These include Marivan in the north, Mehran in the center, and Shalamcheh [very close to Khorram Shahr] in the south. Qods Force’s commanders oversee and direct their operations inside Iraq from these border bases.

The principle task of the Qods Force is to spread Iran’s “Islamic revolution” to other parts of the Muslim world. The Qods Force has been particularly active in the Iraqi theater and last April, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei decorated Qods Force Commandant General Qassem Soleimani for his “success in promoting Islamic revolution in Iraq.” News of the decoration was not made public.

Iraqi sources say that Iran has been setting up and financing “Islamic libraries” throughout southern and central Iraq and uses them as a conduit to wage propaganda and recruit young Iraqis.'

On another note, Dreams Into Lightning observes the locations of recent Iranian uprisings reported by dissident news media:

Hamadan (Oct. 21)
Mian-do-Ab, northwest Iran (Oct. 10)
Bushehr, southwest Iran (Oct. 4)
Isfahan, Shahin Shahr, Kashan central Iran (Oct. 1-2); also Bandar Abbas and Nour-Abad
Tehran, Esfahan, Hamadan, Ardebil, Shiraz, Kermanshah, Ahwaz, Falavarjan, Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) and Yazd (Sept. 30 - Oct. 1)

UN Official Says Boycott Would Not Cripple Iraq Elections

UN official Carlos Valenzuela, working in support of Iraq's transitional election, was quoted as saying a boycott of the election by certain parties would "damage but not destroy" the election's credibility, noting that any transitional election is conducted under less-than-ideal conditions. The Association of Muslim Scholars, Iraq's leading Sunni organization, had threatened to boycott the January 2005 elections if US-led forces were to launch a full-scale assault on Fallujah. Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari says his government is working toward a resolution of the Fallujah crisis in time for the 2005 elections.

Iran: Regime Hardliners Push Nuke Talks

Hardline factions are struggling to reassert themselves within the Iranian regime. This latest bulletin from Debka suggests that their efforts may succeed in forcing a confrontation between Tehran and Washington:

'Hardline majority in Iranian parliament tables urgent bill to compel government to resume uranium enrichment and prohibit UN snap inspections of nuclear sites. Monday, US national security adviser Rice confirmed likelihood of Iran case going to the world body for sanctions - in address to AIPEC in Florida.'

Afghan Women Lead the Way

Hat tip: Rickvid in Seattle, at the Healing Iraq comments.

Barbara Walters of 20/20 did a story on gender roles in Kabul several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that women customarily walked about 5 paces behind their husbands.

She returned to Kabul recently and observed that women still walk behind their husbands, but now seem to walk even further back and are happy with the old custom.

Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, "Why do you now seem happy with the old custom that you used to try and change?"

"Land mines," whispered the woman.

MORAL: BEHIND EVERY MAN -- WAY BEHIND -- IS A SMART WOMAN!!!!

A Year of Healing Iraq

This past week marked the first anniversary of the blog Healing Iraq by Zeyad. The first post is dated October 15, 2003 and was posted on October 17. "Healing Iraq" was the first blog to open the window for Westerners on the Iraqi people's yearning for freedom. Zeyad has posted some very important articles on Iraqi history and culture as well. Go check out Healing Iraq.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Iranian bikers fight back. From Iran Focus, via Blog Iran:

"Tehran, Oct. 19 - Clashes erupted between motorcyclists and Iranian security forces in Yazd (central Iran) following reports of harassment of cyclists by local police.

Police set up patrols in Karkard Square in Yazd yesterday morning and arrested a number of motorcyclists. Ensuing clashes between some 300 cyclists and security forces left a number of people wounded.

Eye-witnesses said that angry cyclists pursued and destroyed several cars belonging to the security forces and also set alight police motorcycle tyres.

At least 15 protesters have been detained. Their fate is presently unknown."

Iran Bulletin: Nemazee Denies Regime Ties - Points Finger at Kerry

Hassan Nemazee, the Iranian-American banker who is one of Senator John Kerry's chief fund-raisers, denied Iran activists' allegations that he is a supporter of the IRI regime. He spoke under oath at a deposition connected with Nemazee's civil lawsuit against Aryo Pirouznia, the leader of Iranian activist group SMCCDI.

But Nemazee went far beyond rejecting Pirouznia's accusations of regime ties. He explicitly repudiated his employer's Iran policy, saying that Tehran should not be trusted with nuclear weapons, that the regime posed a threat to the world, and that "he would be delighted to see regime change in Tehran". Nemazee also criticized Kerry's proposed policy of normalizing ties with the Iran regime.

More details as they become available.

Nemazee drops bombshell, dime on Kerry

Madonna Queries Kabbalah Centre's Finances

I've posted before on pop singer Madonna and her involvement with the Kabbalah Centre run by Rabbi Philip Berg and his sons, and I've suspected all along that the gifted (if politically misguided) entertainer was probably too good for the Kabbalah Centre. My previous posts, spurred by Yossi Klein Halevi's article in The New Republic, examined the star's association with a somewhat dubious institution which is rumored (among other things) to be promoting claims of immortality.

Now, it seems, Madonna is asking some tough questions about the Centre's use of her generous donations.

Madonna has reportedly fallen out with Kabbalah leader Rabbi Berg.

The singer, who is a devout follower of the mystical Jewish faith, is said to be querying how the religion is spending the vast amounts of money she has donated and is demanding a detailed account of how it has been used.

Previous posts:
The Kabbalah
Like a Persian

Madonna, as I've said before, is probably much more intelligent than the media give her credit for. I think her spirituality is genuine too, and for that reason I see her association with the Kabbalah Centre as a step down for her, not a step up. It's sad that she doesn't have access to more authentic spiritual resources. As a woman, she almost certainly faces unconscious prejudice from even well-intentioned male teachers. As a celebrity, she simply doesn't have access to places like my old shul, Congregation Knesseth Israel of San Francisco, which I described here. So she works with what she has - and in this case, perhaps, discovers its limitations.

Whatever the truth about the Kabbalah Centre may be, I hope that Madonna Ciccone will continue her spiritual quest. The traveller should not abandon her journey, even if she finds she has been led astray.

Jewish Liberals for Bush

I previously posted a link to this excellent piece, but I think it's worth presenting here in its entirety. The author prefers to remain anonymous, but it was originally posted by Judith on The Command Post. The writer invokes a famous proverb by Rabbi Hillel (Pirkei Avot 1:14) in explaining her decision to break a lifelong habit of Democratic voting by supporting President Bush in this year's election.

Why This Lifelong Jewish Liberal is Voting Republican

When I pull the lever on November 2nd for George Bush, I will be voting with more passionate conviction than I have ever mustered in a lifetime of voting Democratic.

My motive is simple: I believe the moral imperative of our time is to fully prosecute the War on Terror. As a Jew, I believe this sacred fight embodies the deepest Jewish values, so eloquently expressed by the ancient sage Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”

Let me explain.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?” How do we make sense of the violence engulfing our world since September 11th? We reel from one barbaric slaughter to the next, unable to understand the horrors unfolding in front of our eyes: office workers jumping from burning buildings in New York, school children shot in the back in Russia, families exploding in pizza parlors and busses and seder tables in Israel. What unites these disparate acts of terror? Who is the enemy we face?

The phrase, “War on Terror,” studiously avoids naming our foe. Some have proposed calling this fight the War on Radical Islam or the War on Islamo-Fascism. I suggest the term the War on Islamic Terror for what binds together these acts is a religiously-inspired frenzy to destroy. Fueled by the fiery theology of jihad, or global holy war, the terrorists define every non-Muslim, including women and children, as enemy combatants who must be annihilated. They seek no compromise or negotiation. They seek our death.

We therefore face an existential challenge: Do we have the right to exist? Does our civilization merit continuing? Do we claim our freedom? On the most basic, inescapable level, as Rabbi Hillel asked us 2,000 years ago, are we for ourselves?

If we answer yes, we must answer with our actions. No one will stand with us if we do not stand for ourselves. We must commit to a long, difficult battle that will inevitably encounter agonizing setbacks along the way to victory. This fight will assume many guises as we seek to deter, disarm, and demolish the shifting forces intent on our murder. We will disrupt and weaken free-floating terror groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad. We will depose incorrigible terror masters like Saddam Hussein, who lobbed Scud missiles into Israel, publicly conferred fat checks on the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, and invited Abbu Abbas, the murderer of the wheelchair-bound American Jew, Leon Klinghoffer, to live out his days as an honored pensioner in Baghdad. And we will deny nuclear capabilities to the mad mullahs of Iran, whose Defense Minister this week vowed to “crush America” and “wipe Israel off the map.”

The task may be complex, but the morality is straightforward. We believe that both our lives and our way of life are worth preserving. And although we carry the heavy burden of protecting liberty, our steps are lightened by the rewards of meeting Hillel’s second challenge.

But if I am only for myself, what am I?” On October 9th, Afghanistan conducted the first one-person, one-vote democratic election in its history. Out of 10 million eligible Afghanis, an astonishing 9.9 million registered to vote for president, including the former king. 42% of the registered voters are women. Under the Taliban, Afghani women were prisoners in their homes, many literally starving to death. Today Afghani women compete in the Olympics, attend Kabul University, and open craft-based businesses, while their daughters constitute one-third of the 4 million Afghani children enrolled in school. 2,200 child soldiers have been demobilized; platoons of ex-combatants are being trained to build and maintain roads; electrification is spreading throughout the country, and the famous Buddhist statues destroyed by the Taliban are being reconstructed. And in an overwhelming sign of optimism, 3 million Afghani refugees have returned from Pakistan and Iran, eager to rebuild their lives in their newly-freed homeland.

In a country successively tormented by Soviet occupation, civil war, and the Taliban’s brutal theocracy, hope is alive. Democracy is being born. Human dignity is taking root.

These inspiring developments are no accident: They have been purchased with American blood, sweat and treasure, and those of our allies, and they reflect our truest national character. With every illiterate adult taught to read, every young girl heading off to school for the first time, every boy trained to earn a living, we prove our deepest desire is to spread the blessings of freedom.

In Iraq, too, our painfully hard work of implanting democracy is proceeding. (You won’t find full portraits of either country’s progress in The New York Times or on CBS. Read for the bigger picture.) Sovereignty has been passed from the American-led Coalition Authority to the Iraqis, who are now preparing for nation-wide free and democratic elections in January. Meanwhile, on a local level, democracy is springing up through newly-elected town councils. Ahood Aabass, the first woman elected to the new governing council in Basra, reports that under Saddam, children went to schools without windows, doors and toilets, and the local water had worms. Now she praises the “great strides” that have been made in education, human rights, health care and the infrastructure. 20 million Iraqis now enjoy clean water and improved sanitation. Schools have been renovated and reopened. 159,000 new school desks have been distributed, millions of new textbooks have been printed, thousands of children have been vaccinated, and teachers now make between $300 and $500 a month, instead of the $3 they were paid by Saddam. The new Iraq Stock Exchange is now open for business (ISX) and commercial ties are increasing between Iraq, Europe and Japan. A newly-accessible internet is allowing Iraqis to openly exchange ideas, and a free press is flourishing.

A country once brutalized by a sadistic dictator who filled its earth with mass graves, tortured its dissidents, raped its women, and starved its children, is striving mightily to transform into a prosperous democracy. American resolve has let freedom reign.

"If not now, when?” Senator Kerry has decried “the rush to war,” stating that America “has lost its moral authority” because we overthrew Saddam without a sufficient number of allies. 34 countries joined us in our military endeavor there; Senator Kerry preferred to wait until we secured the co-operation of France, which means we would still be waiting today.

If we went to Iraq too early to please Senator Kerry, we are now lingering too long for his taste. Dismayed by the hopeless “quagmire” he perceives, he has declared his intention to bring our troops home as soon as possible, preferably in six months.

Too early, too late: It’s never quite the right time to do battle on Senator Kerry’s calendar. There is always another ally to consult, resolution to be passed, conference to be convened, process to be perfected, obstacle to be avoided.

And yet history has appointed the hour of our challenge, and however much we wish to turn back time, our moment has come. When the World Trade Center was attacked the first time in 1993, we chose to ignore the true seriousness of its implications. But on September 11th, 2001, with the Pentagon in flames, the World Trade Center collapsing, and a hijacked plane speeding towards Congress, we finally began our generation’s rendezvous with destiny.

“You can not escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today,” said President Lincoln at another decisive moment in our nation’s history. The War on Islamic Terror must be waged fully, humanely, and successfully. This monumental battle is both our burden and our privilege, for as Thomas Paine said when our country was born, “If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”

On November 2nd, I will choose to honor my heritage as a Jew and as an American by voting for George Bush.

Melissa Etheridge update

Melissa Etheridge (yes, she who inspired the title of this blog) is recovering from cancer surgery. She is to begin chemotherapy next; however, her prognosis is very good. Melissa plans to continue recording as well as spending time with her wife Tammy and kids. Please take a moment to leave her a message (requires registration) and visit her homepage.

Let's blogroll!

Big Pharaoh takes on Friedman. Egyptian blogger GM responds to Thomas L. Friedman's column on American's supposed "addiction" to 9/11. Read it here.

The Head Heeb wins the award for "Best Post Title of the Week" for his damning review of "The Passion".

And speaking of movies, screenwriter Roger L. Simon posts his rave review of "Team America" here. Also find out more about the sinister conspiracy between Roger L. Simon and Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs. Look for a fedora and a Hawaiian print shirt ...

FOR what? Michele at A Small Victory has a blistering response to the self-serving idiots of the Iraq Photo Project. This post is an excellent reference for those who might have missed the past year's worth of Iraqi blogs.

Imshin takes a break from the stresses of life in Israel and shares some beautiful photos of her country - which, some claim, does not exist.

Juliette is finding her own country - Southern California - a little less beautiful lately, but is counting her blessings nevertheless. (Hey J, don't forget the next line: "But it pours, oh man it pours.")