Economist, April 12

(posted Saturday, April 12)

The cover story and editorial conclude, albeit unenthusiastically, that morality and human rights have a place in foreign policy. Outside pressure often civilizes undemocratic, inhumane nations (i.e., South Africa and the Soviet Union). But the Economist is uncertain whether Western pressure can persuade China to mend its ways. A gloomy article details the obstacles that will face Zairian rebel leader Laurent Kabila after he deposes Mobutu: opposition to his Tutsi soldiers by other tribes, a roaming Rwandan army marooned in Zaire, and endemic corruption. A piece on biological weapons cautions that 1) Iraq still has them; 2) they are easy to hide; and 3) they are phenomenally dangerous.

NewRepublic, April 28

(posted Friday, April 11)

Republicans hesitate to dump Newt Gingrich because his potential successors would be worse, argues the cover story, "The Men Who Would Be Newt." Each of the heirs apparent is dissected: Dick Armey is too dull, Tom DeLay is too volatile, John Boehner is too treacherous. All are too conservative. An article about Labor Secretary-designate Alexis Herman labels her the "least-qualified--and certainly most scandal-plagued" of Clinton's Cabinet nominees. But she will cruise to confirmation because Republicans prefer an ineffective labor secretary to a fighter like Robert Reich. An article lambastes medical ethicists for being ill-trained. The most damaging claim: HMOs hire ethicists who then justify the HMOs' decisions to deny expensive treatment. Also, a piece claims that Jerusalem is not really a holy city for Islam: Muslims claim it only to score political points off Jews.

Vanity Fair, May 1997

(posted Friday, April 11)

This month's billionaire profile is Sir James Goldsmith, the corporate raider turned politician. Violently opposed to the European Union, Goldsmith is spending $30 million to underwrite his anti-EU Referendum Party in the upcoming British election. Much is made of his peculiar family: He keeps a wife, an ex-wife, and a mistress. An article on crime novelist Patricia Cornwell finds her obsessive, vengeful, and paranoid, and confirms that she had a lesbian affair with an FBI agent (who was nearly murdered by her husband). An appreciation of art critic Robert Hughes says he observes America better than anyone since de Tocqueville. Also, Vanity Fair hypes its own: A long excerpt from a biography of Claire Booth Luce focuses on her stint as VF's managing editor. (The magazine was "Condé Nast's prize gift to the haut monde.")

New York Times Magazine, April 13