the kristol method is apparently to be so dense that a sense of compassion for faraway people is nothing but a fleeting tingle felt at the bottom of the feet

If only Jeffrey Dahmer had a friend like Kristol to let him know when he was crossing the line.

Do I recall something about a Law of Institutions? Well it's a good thing to know that Musharraf is law abiding.

I didn't see it, but people say the show PBS recently broadcast, in which Kristol got the Mark Twain Award at the Kennedy Center, was really good.

What happens to Kristol when he's outlived his usefulness? Will the day never come?

they like being dictators beyond when it is in their country's national interest...

I'm confused. When is it in the "national interest" of a country to be ruled by a dictator?

I'm not saying it isn't, I'd just appreciate a little guidance here. I mean, maybe "rule by dictator" is in our national interest? I'd hate for us to continue on with this archaic "democracy" thing if our national interest requires something else.

the early worm generates the buzz

Fred Kagan and Michael O'Hanlon have also weighed in on US military options in Pakistan ("Our Problem") saying that the US shouldn't take the forces out of an "improving situation in Iraq to cope with a deteriorating one in Pakistan. . . A second, broader option would involve supporting the core of the Pakistani armed forces as they sought to hold the country together...this would require a sizeable combat force - not only from the United States, but ideally from other Western powers and moderate Muslim nations."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/opinion/18kagan.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The US has no qualified south Asia experts in Islamabad or in the State Department. Negroponte is the best the US can do. So we revert to listening to these totally unqualified and mis-directed people regarding a terribly complex situation in a mis-ruled country which borders on Afghanistan, Iran, China and India, and is now "our problem".

No wonder the US is a joke around the world (except where it's killing people).

now that torture is okey-dokey here in the ole USA, does that mean we get a dictator next? will it be a friendly or unfriendly one?

when are they going to shut the borders so that we can not longer leave? I hear the Very Serious People know that this will be a good thing too, along with the friendly dictators. The Very Serious People always know what is best for us.

"friendly dictator" is perhaps similar to "philosopher king"

20th century successful examples might include: Ataturk (Turkey), Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore)

it can be argued that it is in the national interest to be ruled by a friendly dictator when said person has the best interests of the nation at heart, and would do a better job of safeguarding them than would the democratic political process - in Musharraf's own opinion, the situation in Pakistan corresponds to this now ("the nation is more important than anything, even democracy")

perhaps the rule of President-for-life Hillary the Great (assuming unfortunate events do not prevent her assuming power) will assuage our own need for a "friendly dictator"

Remember that movie, what the hell was it called? You know, the onewhen the Pakistanis, superglued Negroponte to their atom bomb and the last you see him is when he's waving his cowboy hat while recceding away from the bomb bay doors toward New York? (Yee Haw)

Y'know, dictators have feelings, too, you guys. And y'know what else - who cares!

It's interesting to see the pretzel contortions the admin is going through to make it clear that Musharraf is in the wrong, but not so clear as to support a people's revolution (people being the lawyers, judges, opposition, ordinary citizens, who are now in jail or ankle-braceleted in their houses), which would not be particularly friendly to the US and its "democratic" principles.

If I were a betting person . . . .

mistah,

"Friendly" means friendly to the United States, not friendly to the people being ruled.

SteveB,

The word dictator comes from a Roman custom of giving a single person broad authority to resolve a crisis, on the assumption they would relinquish the power once the crisis was resolved. Of course, they rarely would relinquish the power without considerable prodding with sharp pointy things, which usually proved the solution to dictators who overstayed their welcome. Cincinnatus, whom the city of Cincinnati is named for, is the exception that proves the rules, voluntarily returning to his life of gentleman farmer once his term was over.

Why is anyone listening to Kristol? This is the man who pooh-poohed the possibility of Shia-Sunni conflict in Iraq as "pop psychology." If you get something that wrong in prognosticating shouldn’t you be banned for life or a least laughed at unmercifully? Why is this moron still allowed to bloviate? Why should anyone take him seriously?

there are two reasons you have to listen to him

1) he's on television all the time
2) it's illegal to stuff his mouth with dead kids' fingers and float him out to sea

2) it's illegal to stuff his mouth with dead kids' fingers and float him out to sea."

But, Hapa, why? It would be so much fun (well, not the kids' fingers, but the rest).

I liked him better when Bruce Vilanch wrote his jokes.

you know, when benazir was put under house arrest, she called me. "'nando, did the cameras show how much i love democracy?" i told her, "you know, martha asked me exactly the same, and i said, 'it was -- so-so.' but, you, benazir -- marvelous. do you hear what i am saying to you?" it was like looking at the statue of liberty's twin sister, but less nauseated. on my life, i swear this. absolutely marvelous.