Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Oy.
Andrew Sullivan claims there is a "Neocon War Against Roger Cohen," here, and he cites as proof this piece from Commentary, which does in fact list some of Roger Cohen's "inconsistencies" on the Iranian regime.
Now, Commentary is not a "neocon" magazine, but it is advertised as a "General but Jewish" magazine so I wonder if Mr. Sullivan is trying to tell us something?
I have no idea whether Emanuele Ottolenghi is a "neocon" or not (he is a general maybe?) but it is a safe bet that he is a "Jew" and at the very least he is obviously published by a "Jewish" magazine.
Now, Mr. Sullivan claims that said "neocons" would, were Roger Cohen not "Jewish," be calling Mr. Cohen an "anti-Semite."
Wait a second.
Maybe Roger Cohen is actually a "neocon"? I mean if a Commentary author is by default a "neocon" maybe Mr. Cohen is one too?
I must be a "neocon" also since my mother was a "neocon" and I am a Reform "neocon" myself.
As a matter of fact I am a Left Wing Reform "neocon" although I admit I don't go to Temple very often.
In fact usually go only at the High Holidays to hear the cantors, though not at the Temple I usually don't attend because the cantors are better at the other one, so ok that's sort of on the Left Wing Secular side of the spectrum, in fact some would say "Bad Neocon" though I have excellent taste in "neocon" music, but I digress.
More importantly, I am a Democrat who voted for Obama and many, many others like me have been pretty mad at Roger Cohen for some of his preaching about Iran, which has demonstrably been proved false.
Can we all agree that the mere presence of 25,000 "neocons" in Iran has clearly not shown said state to be a Thriving Democracy in the immortal words of Zbig The Realist, Friend of The Neocons and The Neocon State, now has it.
Personally, I feel strongly that states which force women to veil and which "don't have any gays" and which oppress religious minorities and stone people for adultery and which choose the political candidates who may run for office are by definition NOT DEMOCRACIES thriving or otherwise but being a mere "neocon," even a Left Wing Reform FEMINIST "neocon" who voted for Obama, what do I know right?
Left?
Now, to his credit Mr. Cohen, the "neocon," has been writing brilliant pieces from Iran since the election, pieces of real journalism and not propaganda or apologetics for the regime, nor has he been declaring that "Israel Is Crying Wolf" lately nor lecturing expatriot Iranian "neocons" about The Glories of the Revolution, and he deserves credit where credit is due.
So he's getting it. Credit I mean.
At least from this particular "neocon." Who by the way has no problem calling antisemitic Jews antisemites, regardless of whether they are neocons or not.
Mr. Sullivan, on the other hand...
Dude. Come on over and tell us why YOU are not an antisemite. Or should I say, "anti-neocon"?
PS: an article by you is a war?
My understanding is that Roger Cohen is not Jewish, but was raised Anglican (or similar) in an upper-crust English household, and that he went to exclusive "public" (ie. private) boarding schools.
And although his recent posts on Iran are more realistic than previously, he is still an apologist for the current regime and pandering for affection from the totalitarian overlords. Nor does his current 'reformation' excuse his disgraceful earlier writing.
I knew he that he is British. It would be a heck of a note, considering A.S.'s comments, if he isn't actually Jewish.
:):):)
His writing from Tehran, since he admitted he had "underestimated the brutality of the regime" (I believe that is an accurate quote)has been very powerful.
Prior to this his work is of a piece with the "we didn't think Ahmadijenad was so bad" point of view.*
In that scenario everybody who saw through the charade is an evil Zionist neocon - and to heck with the human rights implications.
I'm surprised that people are continuing to beat this tired drum now that the wraps are off and EVERYBODY has to acknowledge what we've been trying to say.
And in case there's any confusion: "WE" includes people on the Left who have been concerned about the oppression of the Iranian people, including religious and ethnic minorities, dissidents, the "non-existent" gays...how come we are all lumped into the "neocon" category?
I'm really baffled too that nobody has been listening to the women. They're in the vanguard of this opposition, many suffered dreadfully when they were forced back into the chador, and mentioning these things somehow makes one a "neocon".**
I don't get it.
?
Finally, why aren't Holocaust denial, taunting people with the Holocaust cartoon contest and threatening Israel with extinction considered serious issues for everybody concerned with human rights?
*Note, this is a separate issue from that of trying to show the rich and ancient Persian culture and the diversity of people there - that's admirable. Apologizing for a repressive regime is something else.
**Not that there's anything wrong with neocons you understand:)
But it raises another issue - besides the code for "Jew" - it's a kind of political bigotry isn't it - using the term "neocon" as a curse - kind of like - well - "Zionist"....
Hello?
I wish Mr. Sullivan would come talk about these issues.
Finally, why aren't Holocaust denial, taunting people with the Holocaust cartoon contest and threatening Israel with extinction considered serious issues for everybody concerned with human rights?
Cause it's only the Jews being targeted.
There are lots of examples but one in the Israeli media now is Gilad Shalit, 3 years in captivity after being kidnapped.
Why has access to him by the Red Cross been denied?
Even the Geneva Convention which is so often cited has been ignored by not only the HR crowd but by those governing independent states. I don't think that even the US has made a case for the RC to be permitted to see him.
#1,
Maybe you are confusing him with British journalist Nick Cohen who is not Jewish, but got his wake-up call from his Liberal left partisans in 2005 because of his surname.
Quite a surprise he got from his fellow anti-neocons.
I am worried if Gilad Shalit is even alive. I hope he is!
But, there was a disturbing snippet the other day from a Hamas member, quoted by E of Z, who said they aren't sure now if he is alive or not. He cited the Gaza war as an excuse.
I'm concerned. For years people were praying and bargaining for the return of Regev and Goldwasser and they were dead already.
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2009/06/hamas-says-it-doesnt-know-if-shalit-is.html