Show me a prison Show me a jail Show me a man Whose face is growing pale
And I'll show you a young man With many reasons why And there but for fortune May go you or I
(Joan Baez, as performed by Phil Ochs)
Ochs specialized in these types of folk songs, which are so extremely liberal that they seem like parodies. The central message of the song is of course summed up in that last bit about "there but for fortune".
Forty years later, some leftists are still singing the same song, if to a hip-hop beat. Matt Yglesias apparently has written a book on foreign policy:
He echoes Osama bin Laden when he argues that Islamist anger against the West is a justified response to foreign powers that “occupy Muslim land.” This is a bold assertion, and yet Yglesias doesn’t care to explore why Iran and Syria—countries where foreign soldiers haven’t set foot for decades—continue to be the two most active state sponsors of international terrorism. In fact, he urges the United States to engage Iran and Syrian in diplomatic talks about the future of Iraq so that all three can “work together to secure their common interests in that country.” What “common interest” supporters of a democratic, federal, and secular Iraq might share with the ayatollahs and Assads is left unsaid.
To say that the review is scathing would be putting it mildly. Yglesias, like many of the Left, believes that the only real problem in the world is the United States. We don't have any real enemies, just folks "with many reasons why."
Why does Yglesias express such serenity when it comes to the malicious threats of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yet become apoplectic upon hearing the statements of Joe Lieberman?
Heheh, the Lieberman mania on the Left is well known, and the point of not condemning Ahmadinnerjacket is that one must never give support to the Bush Administration.
See also here, where there is a picture of boneheaded Matt in terrorist attire. If Matt were ever to meet a real terrorist, one hopes he would have an empty bladder. Further thoughts at Protein Wisdom.
Update: Here's a video of Peter, Paul & Mary getting gushy over that pale prisoner:
