The “white man’s burden”

Shock & Awe wonders why influential, oft-quoted in major media, neo-con blogger Andrew Sullivan sees Saddam’s capture as a victory for “Anglo-Americans”

Andrew Sullivan wrote something odd about Saddam’s capture

You’re welcome. And as I read this and other Iraqi blogs written by people who lived under a kind of terror that we in the West have no way to understand or truly empathize with, I feel a lump in my throat. I am so proud of the country I was born in and the country I have made my home. I have never been prouder to be an Anglo-American,

What the hell?

“…an Anglo-American…?”

I’m hoping that there’s a nice explanation for this that doesn’t have anything to do with national origin.

Of course, the coalition includes a lot more than just England and America. Leaving out all the nonsense countries like Afghanistan and Palau, we’ve still got Italians, Japanese, Spanish, and others who have given their lives for this cause.

Not to mention the many Mexicans serving in our volunteer army for the promise of a U.S. citizenship.

But, somehow, this is an Anglo-American moment of victory.

It’s not white pride, is it? I mean, surely that’s not what Andrew’s talking about here, right?

But if not that, what the hell does he mean?

Now, the head of the American forces in Iraq is Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez. But, if someone — such as Kos? — said that he’s never felt more proud to be an American of Latino descent because of the capture, surely that would be — horrors! — identity politics.

So why is Andrew Sullivan proudly beating his Anglo-American chest and claiming this victory for his national origin?

Maybe it’s because neo-cons do see this as a racial fight - with beleaguered Chistian whites battling the dark-skinned non-Christian rabble hordes?

All of which is just a modern update of the “white man’s burden” racist nonsense that Kipling popularized in 1899. It uses the rationalization of being forced, forced I tell you, to civilize those damned ignorant savages as a cover for trying to dominate the planet. And yes, of course they think other races and cultures are inferior. That goes with the territory. That’s why it’s the white man’s burden.

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Back to reality

Post-Saddam stock rally sags, dollar hits new lows against euro

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Why the Dean campaign gets it

Some alleged Democrats recently ran nasty attack ads against Howard Dean, with visuals of bin Laden, implying Dean was weak on national security.

The Dean campaign replied, using their official blog, that these ads were stomach-turning. Many bloggers picked up the story and ran with it, adding their own comments. And now, in a very nice touch, the Dean blog is listing the blogs that linked to their original story.

This isn’t just an example of a campaign that understands the Net, this is also a brilliant demonstration of how to build press momentum for your story, but more importantly, of how to build community, of letting people know they are appreciated, of encouraging them to participate even more.

(Ok, they didn’t link back to the PolZeros post on this, as it criticized Dean for his Iraq stance - and I would have been startled if they had linked to it!)

Dick Morris on politics and blogs

And still, apparently sophisticated people say “what’s a blog?” and give Dick Morris the same blank stare they give you and me at the mention of this mysterious Internet transformation.  I wanted to hear what he tells the innocents and the doubters.  “Well,” Morris said, “how do you think Bill Clinton survived impeachment but for blogs and MoveOn and all of that?  Where did the anti-globalization movement gets its strength from?  Certainly not the mainstream media!  Where did the right wing get its strength from?  And the anti-Clinton stuff?  Where is the Dean candidacy from?

And though some pols will triple their TV buys to make up the difference, “it’s the last gasp of a dying system.”  The pull, Morris says, is the fact that one quarter of the country is on a computer during prime time; 70 percent of Americans have regular Internet access.  “It’s an entirely new age in American politics.”

PS Dean doesn’t bend in his opposition to war in Iraq

Howard Dean on Monday stood by his criticism of the war with Iraq, hailing the capture of Saddam Hussein but saying that his seizure had failed to make America safer and that the invasion of the former dictator’s country was launched “in the wrong way at the wrong time.”

He’s still the only major Democratic candidate voicing serious opposition to the war. In a different dimension, Al Sharpton or Dennis Kucinich could have a chance at President, but not in this universe at the present time. So, Dean, the front runner, is still the antiwar candidate, although his plan on what to do in Iraq (stay there and run the place through proxies) doesn’t seem like an answer to me. However, he would be way more moderate than Bush (hey, who wouldn’t be?), has a serious chance of winning, and thus deserves support.

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Saddam’s “capture”?

Food For Thought: Saddam’s Capture.

DEBKAFiles, one of Israel’s right-wing defense/security consulting firms with its own website and services, ran this story on its site Sunday, speculating rather credibly that Saddam was a hostage when he was taken by US forces.

BuzzFlash reminds us that GOP Congressman Ray LaHood, who it happens sits on the House Intelligence Committee, and who is a darling of the right wing and Karl Rove in particular, bragged to one of his hometown papers just under two weeks ago that we were about to get Saddam.

Connect the Dots. Is LaHood a psychic, or what exactly did he know?

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