Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia (Demonizing Iran)

Today the consensus is that Iran is “evil”, Ahmadinejad is a hate-monger and madman, Iran is an exporter of terrorism and is arming insurgents against American troops. Of course, Iran wasn’t a “terrorist nation” when Reagan sold it arms, but needless to that’s far too distant history for the American establishment to appreciate. Oceania has [...]

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Bush and the Primacy of the Political

Bush’s speech is also a typical reflection of his utter disregard for the truth. That Petraeus’ conclusions were predestined we all understand. (I’ve been hearing so much about “Petraeus and Crocker” that I wondered if they finally sent the Miami Vice to Iraq to put things right). Again, the Surge is designed to help Bush [...]

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An Engagement Beyond His Presidency

It’s hard not to hear in optimistic stories of the “surge” the ironic evidence of the original crime, the obliteration of Iraq. Bush’s speech:

Brazenly reminds us of the initial failure to establish security that destroyed the future of Iraq
Rubs salt in the wound by asking us to treat a mendacious political [...]

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Philosophers are Here to Save the Day! (Fish and Lilla on Liberalism)

Stanley Fish objects to the claim that “liberalism is not a substantive ideology but a political device that allows many ideologies to flourish.” He argues that liberalism comprises a conception of the good life. That is at the same time its own faith, and one that “eviscerates” other faiths. These faiths do not fully flourish [...]

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The Surge as Mythology

That there is a serious discussion of whether or not the Surge in Iraq is a success is a victory for the Bush administration. Because discussing the nature of something requires you believe it to be real. In this case it requires treating as real a complete fiction, a bit of mythology by an administration [...]

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