Economist, July 24; New Republic, Aug. 2 Kerry nation: The Economist argues that this year the Democratic Convention represents more than just pomp and circumstance. John Kerry’s nomination speech offers an opportunity to “bring the robot to life“—though he’s been the presumptive nominee for months, nearly half of Americans “have no idea of who he is or what he stands for.” In searching for a summation of Kerry’s core beliefs, the magazine decides “they all reflect an acute sense of America’s fallibilities.” Followed by this harsh assessment: “It is not, in some ways, a compelling vision, just as Mr Kerry is not a compelling candidate.”… TNR blames Kerry’s chief adviser Bob Shrum for the candidate’s lack of a defining vision or slogan. It argues that, despite working for seven losing presidential campaigns, Shrum is still able to position himself as the go-to Democratic strategist because of superior infighting abilities and a penchant for making candidates his best buddies.
Brother against brother … and Big Brother: TNR looks at a battle for the soul of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. To the great consternation of more apolitical members, their 31,000-member organization has become increasingly aligned with white supremacist and “neo-secessionist” groups. With the radical wing in ascendancy, the end could be nigh for respectable Confederate organizations. “Whereas the Confederate battle flag used to be the symbol of the cause, it’s now the cause,” laments one former member. … The Economist notes the British crackdown on “anti-social behaviour.” Police can now write up neighborhood toughs for hanging with the wrong crowd or making themselves a public nuisance, putting Britain perhaps alone in the West in having “criminalized behaviour that is not necessarily an offence in law.”— J.L.
New York Times Magazine, July 25.
The cover story profiles a group of liberals with ambitions beyond November’s presidential election. Fed up with the post-Clinton Democratic Party, they want to create a new, progressive governing party. Whether that means revitalizing or replacing the Democrats is not clear. But their diffuse network of Wall Street executives, Silicon Valley venture capitalists, and political activists is financing and building a new political machine for the Internet age. … Would war be better if fewer people died? That’s what an article asks as it examines non-lethal weapons the military is developing. Whether such weapons are good or bad is more controversial than you might expect. … The urban cockroach, all but wiped out by a variety of insecticides, may be on the verge of a comeback, another story says. At least that’s what exterminators and roach scientists hope.—A.B.D.
The New Yorker, July 26
The magazine’s profile of John Kerry is among the best of the countless attempts to explain the man who would be president. Rather than mindlessly repeating tired anecdotes from Kerry’s childhood, the author examines the senator’s past to explain his view of America and its role in the world. The result is a nuanced look at Kerry and his cautious approach to international relations. Although articles in other magazines have examined Kerry’s likely foreign policy and his father’s influence on that policy, this piece is refreshingly original and thoughtful. … A dispatch from the tribal lands along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border shows tribesmen both fighting radical Islamists and bristling against the American perception that they harbor al-Qaida. One tribal leader says, “George Bush was elected President by the state of Florida. His brother is governor of Florida. George Bush knew there were terrorists training in Florida?”— A.B.D.
Weekly Standard, July 26
The magazine explains why George Bush will not drop Dick Cheney from the Republican ticket, despite the chatter among TV pundits and political insiders. Cheney is completely loyal to Bush and remains a favorite of the hard right for his uncompromising positions on issues from missile defense to tax cuts. … An article praises former administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer. Bremer’s countless small successes go unappreciated while his most momentous undertakings—disbanding the army and supporting de-Baathification—are unfairly criticized. Bremer is a politically dexterous leader who helped Iraq chart the difficult course to sovereignty. … Stephen F. Hayes, author of The Connection, continues to argue that Democrats and the media are overlooking obvious ties between Iraq and al-Qaida. Iraq supported terrorism even if it did not help plan the Sept. 11 attacks, he writes. An editorial concurs and adds that the 9/11 Commission’s final report must address unexplained contact between Iraq and al-Qaida.— A.B.D.
Time and Newsweek, July 26 Sept. 11 and Iran: Newsweek reports that the 9/11 commission has found ties between the Iranian government and some of the “muscle” hijackers involved in the 2001 attacks. According to the commission’s final report, Iranian authorities instructed border guards not to put Iranian or Afghan stamps in the Saudi terrorists’ passports. These “clean” passports helped the terrorists gain entry to the United States. The commission does not claim Iran knew of the Sept. 11 plot in advance, but it notes that members of al-Qaida remain in Iran. … Time picks up the same story and adds that Iranian officials approached al-Qaida about the possibility of collaborating on future strikes against the United States after the terrorist group nearly destroyed the USS Cole in 2000. Apparently al-Qaida demurred to avoid aggravating its Saudi backers.… Time also runs an excerpt from the new book America the Vulnerable, which claims that homeland security—especially at the nation’s seaports—remains woefully inadequate.
Iraq rebuilds: Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has few democratic credentials and is flirting with dictatorship and martial law, Newsweek reports. Yet his tough-guy approach to security may be the only way to control the violent insurgents operating inside Iraq. …Time catches up with Iraqi Olympians, who are finally free from the maniacal control of former Olympic CEO Odai Hussein. Iraq, which sent four athletes to Sydney in 2000, will send around 30 to this year’s games in Athens. … Despite U.S. promises to make women’s rights one of the centerpieces of a democratic Iraq, “honor” killings are on the rise. Time writes that the practice—in which men kill female relatives who have had premarital sex or otherwise “dishonored” their families—will be difficult to curtail as long as Iraq’s security remains unstable.—A.B.D.
