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[Name removed]

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[liberalhistorian]

1. What's especially sickening is that

Friedman really, firmly, believes he's a knowledgeable expert who knows all there is to know about the ME, even more than Arabs actually living there. He really believes he's one of the few Americans who knows what he's talking about when it comes to the ME, and that everyone has to listen to him. It never occurs to him that he might not be as knowledgeable or quite the expert he fancies himself to be.

[wtmusic]

2. 'Make clear we're in Iraq for one reason:'

(After all the other flimsy pretenses have been exposed)

[legin]

3. If there are people in the White House

ringing around 'pet' journalists to slam Wilson by outing his wife, then I would deduce that the 'slightly out of a clear blue sky' anti-French slam that Friedman did the other week was similarily inspired.

Which would tend to make me dislike Friedman even more, assuming that is possible.

[RichM]

4. Here are some of Tom's trademark "America uber alles" touches, in this

piece:

virtually every autocratic Arab regime is starting to prepare for the uncomfortable possibility that by 2005 Iraq will hold a free election, which will shame all those who never have...
- Free elections? After SCOTUS in December 2000, Tom thinks America can lecture the world about our love of "free elections?"

But in the modern era an unholy alliance between repressive Arab regimes and certain conservative Muslim scholars has led to the domination of certain interpretations of Islam that serve the governments but are hostile to human development — particularly freedom of thought, women's empowerment and the accountability of governments to their people.
- Tom loves this "women's empowerment" bit. He uses it quite a lot. (One gets the impression that his wife makes sure he includes that line.) // Beyond that: do WE have "freedom of thought" here, with our '1984' media? Do WE have "accountability of government to our people?" Tom always acts as though these questions don't even need to be asked.

There is an abundance of religious books published in the Arab region — more than triple the world average — but a paucity of literary and artistic works.
- What arrogant bullshit. The "works" published in the US include toilet fuzz like Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson & Sean Hannity (& Tom Friedman).

But this rebirth requires a massive investment in education, to move it away from uncritical repetition, and steps by the insular Arab states to encourage greater interaction with other nations and cultures and an easing of their social and political restrictions on criticism, the press and importing of ideas from abroad.
- As though we in the US have such massive investment in education, & as though we are so great on "easing political restrictions on the criticism & the press."

This is a man who -- very much like the corrupt society he shamelessly propagandizes for -- is absolutely unable to look in the mirror.

[The Zanti Regent]

5. Friedman is a 5th Columnist.

His loyalty is to Israel, not the United States.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Because he's ANAL! (n/t)

[KG]

7. tom friedman - american moron

can somebody turn off his mic. ? :grr:

[Classical_Liberal]

8. I think these arab friends that want the US to invade them may

be imaginary. I don't particularly approve of the muslim theocracy there, but I don't believe for a second they want us there. I think the can create democracy without me forcing it on them. Anyway, Friedman is close to the Israelis political establishment and anything the deflects attention from the fact that the Israelis won't allow most Palestinians to vote in the so-called Israelis democracy is always promoted by them. They won't allow them to vote because they want to ethnically cleans them from the west bank. Friedman says he wants them to have a state, but I don't believe him anymore.

[loudnclear]

9. "You have to be taught to hate and to hate. You have to be carefully

taught." (s. Pacific song)

[Name removed]

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