Journalism 101: Today's Awards for Incisive Comment

HONOURABLE MENTION: THE ALL IS WELL IN IRAQ COMMENT

Marine Captain Giles Clarke writes in The New York Times of running a half-marathon in Baghdad:

As I sprinted across the finish line, though, I knew it was all for a greater good. I knew that I was contributing to something much bigger than myself. How did I know this? I just ran a half-marathon in Baghdad.

Totally Irrelevant Fact (1):

Three bombings targeting Iraqi government employees and the U.S.-fortified Green Zone killed at least 20 people and left scores wounded Monday.

Totally Irrelevant Fact (2):

Number of US military personnel who ran the half-marathon: More than 200
Number of Iraqis who ran the half-marathon: 0

BRONZE MEDAL: I LOVE YOU, YES, I DO COMMENT

David Ignatius gets misty-eyed over Condoleezza Rice in The Washington Post:

Condoleezza Rice may be the most disciplined person in this town of workaholics. She has always been the perfect young woman, pleasing and impressing others.

Dave's Afterthought:

Now the issue of U.S.-Iranian relations will be handed over to the Obama administration. "We ran out of time," says one administration official.

The Question Dave Did Not Ask Condi:

Why?

SILVER MEDAL: THE BETTER LATE THAN NEVER COMMENT

The Washington Post celebrates Presidential justice:

THE BUSH administration acted fairly and responsibly this week in deciding to release Osama bin Laden's former driver from the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and return him to his home country of Yemen.

Suggestion made by The Post:

The White House has another opportunity to do the right thing, this time in the case of 17 Chinese Uighurs held at Guantanamo.

Suggestion not made by The Post:

Anything to do with the other 235 detainees at Camp X-Ray

GOLD MEDAL: THE TRIBUTE TO CONSERVAPEDIA COMMENT

In The Washington Post, George Will joins Conservapedia's vigilant defence against Dangerous Professors, reviewing Stanley Fish's book, Save the World on Your Own Time:

Fish's advocacy of a banal proscription -- of explicit political preaching in classrooms -- may have made him anathema to academia's infantile left. The shrewder left will, however, welcome his book because it denies or defends other politicizations of academia that are less blatant but more prevalent and consequential -- those concerning hiring and curricula.

For those who can't quite make it through that paragraph, here is Conservapedia's translation:

Professor values are currently one of the most prevalent forms of Liberal indoctrination.

Condi's Interview: The Opening Reactions

CONDI ON CIVIL RIGHTS:

"I remember telling my European colleagues that I know they always think that America is going to be more aggressive on fighting extremism than they. But you know, we could never, within our context, have passed the law like the basic incitement laws that the British have passed.(4) The first amendment would have prohibited it."

READERS REPLY:

"Yes, because Bush Administration was known for respecting the Constitution..."

"...by introducing Acts such as the Patriot Act."

"Viva la Constitution!"

"She's right. Canada's hate crime laws also wouldn't be constitutional in the U.S."

"Maybe this quote should be read as a lament on her part or an expression of envy?"

CONDI'S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

"It’s really recognizing that this is about a single answer to what is the right form of government, and that’s democracy."

READERS REPLY:

"Thanks. You've set a fine example the last eight years. Don't let your door hit you on the ass on your way out."

CONDI ON THE FREEDOM AGENDA

George W. Bush deserves credit for recognizing that the terms were now going to be set for the next big historical evolution. The president recognized that freedom was something that was not just desirable but essential for the United States; that it meant not just freedom from tyranny but also freedom from disease, from poverty. And that if you were going to have democratic leaders, they had to be able to deliver for their people. Thus the president supported the millennium challenge and the H.I.V. AIDS and Malaria project. And linking up the great compassion of the United States with our security interests. Making it about democracy, defense and development. We’re at the beginning of that historical transformation, and yes, sometimes it’s lonelier at the beginning than at the end.
It’s really recognizing that this is about a single answer to what is the right form of government, and that’s democracy. It takes different forms: there is Japanese democracy, and there’s American democracy, and there are fragile democracies, and there are emerging democracies, and there are states that are trying to find some form of popular legitimacy.

READERS REPLY:

Could this be more vomitous?

Condoleezza Rice in the New York Times

While I've been discussing Marx, Hitler, and Stalin with sixth-formers (high school seniors), another deep political thinker has been chatting with the New York Times.

Condi Rice's interview has sparked a firestorm of discussion amongst colleagues. While I'm catching up, here's an introductory tribute from Mr Steve Earle:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avwJPNmCDh0[/youtube]

Russia to Obama: The Follow-Up

The Associated Press reports that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Barack Obama on Saturday to offer his congratulations on the President-elect's victory. Apparently, Medvedev
"expressed [his] determination to create constructive and positive interaction for the good of global stability and development", as the US and Russia shared responsibility to address "serious problems of a global nature."

So, three days after laying down a challenge with the declaration that Russia would put missiles on its western borders if the US proceeded with missile defence bases in Poland, Medvedev extends an olive branch. Significance?

First of all, the AP's information came from the Kremlin. So the Russian President's call was part of a calculated public strategy. Having talked tough in the 24 hours after the election, Moscow now offers partnership. Not, however, from a position of weakness or following an American lead but from a stance of equality.

Second, not a word from the Obama camp. Nothing.

That's not surprising. After all, Obama doesn't take office for more than two months, so he's not supposed to be making US foreign policy. He has also shown the trait of playing it cool when under pressure, inside and outside the Presidential campaign.

That, however, leads us to third: there is no reference to the current US President in the story. The Bush Administration is now in the past as far as US-Russian relations are concerned. Sure, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov --- in Egypt, of all places --- for 80 minutes yesterday. As the short report --- so short that it only merited a place in "World in Brief" in the Washington Post --- noted, "Despite the length of the private meeting, there was no sign either side had budged on its position on the most contentious issues."

So, if you following the US-Russian dynamic, hold your breath. Hold it for a long time, because Washington is effectively stalled until January.