UNINTENTIONAL (PRESUMABLY) HILARITY:

Neohawks: Leftists Who Love the War Too Much (Richard Goldstein, October 30 - November 5, 2002, Village Voice)

When Osama bin Laden predicted that America would become a hell for its people, he was speaking from a deep understanding of freedom's fragility. Even a victorious war could produce the conditions that fulfill his dream. The great strength of the left is its analysis of social dynamics. To jettison this knowledge, along with the lessons of recent history, is to invite the worst possible future.

This is not a brief for pacifism. There are times when war is necessary, and, in the media at least, there is a real debate about whether this is such a moment. The discussion isn't being led by chastened radicals but by mainstream liberals. The best arguments against invading Iraq can be found in The New York Times. Here you will discover an alternative to both Noam Chomsky and the Bush doctrine-a policy based on cooperative engagement and domestic defense.

It's not all as hilarious as that, but it's close. Of course, nothing could ever match Mr. Goldstein's depiction of Osama having a "deep understanding of freedom's fragility". You'd think if he understood it all he might be alive today, his gang wouldn't be in tatters, and Islamic dictators wouldn't be an endangered species. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 29, 2002 8:03 PM