Roundup: Media's Take

Like Vietnam? In One Way, Yes

William Pfaff, writing in the IHT (Jan 3, 2004): It is true that some critics have warned of a 'new Vietnam,' but they nearly always do so in terms that suggest only that the eventual victory will be more costly than the Bush government expected. The Vietnam analogy is wrong in military terms… The relevant analogy of Vietnam with Iraq is political. The Bush administration's ambition in Iraq is identical to that of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations in Vietnam. It is t

Bush Gets 'Vision Thing' And Embraces Big Risks

Elisabeth Bumiller, writing in the New York Times (Jan. 12, 2004)It was in a moment of irritation during the 1988 campaign that the Republican presidential candidate, Vice President George Bush, first derided"the vision thing," as he called it, thus employing an ungainly piece of Bush-speak to describe a leader's ability to set forth inspiring national goals. Mr. Bush, who may have been one of the most selfeffacing presidents in recent American history, went on to be

American Historians Talk About War, but Is Anyone Listening?

Bob Thompson, writing for the

Don't Rationalize or Justify the Horrors of Terrorism

Reuven Frank, writing for the Los Angeles Times (Jan. 11, 2004)Repeat an unimaginably brutish and outrageous phrase often enough and it becomes common parlance.A mere few years after news accounts first carried the words"suicide bomber," we now accept that there is such a thing, that his -- or her -- presence in the day's news is commonplace.No one any longer stops to think how bizarre an idea it is. A suicide bomber? Someone so intent on murder and des

Japanese Troops Go Abroad for the First Time Since WWII

Mutsuko Murakami, writing for the South China Morning Post (Jan. 10, 2004)In the future, historians may define 2004 as a significant turning point for Japan. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is sending Self-Defence Forces abroad to a war zone for the first time since the second world war. He will give formal orders this month to despatch up to 700 troops to Iraq and its vicinity to"help rebuild the war-ravaged country". A mainstay of about 600 troops will be s

U.S. Can Not Keep Unabom Papers

Bob Egelko, writing for the

A New Phase of Aviation History Is Upon Us: The Paranoia Years

Mark Lawson, writing for the

Even Thatcher Didn't Last, So What Chance Has Blair?

William Rees-Mogg, writing in the Times (London) (Jan. 5, 2004)How long will Tony Blair last? Margaret Thatcher had ten years of real power, from her election victory on May 3, 1979, to Nigel Lawson's resignation as Chancellor on October 29, 1989. There followed a dismal year which included the poll tax, rising unemployment, the Gulf War, the pound joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism, the resignation of Geoffrey Howe and finally the end of her own leadership.M