Has Ahmadinejad said that he holds al-Qaida responsible for 9/11? He might believe that the CIA or the Mossad were the perps, in which case his laying a wreath would obviously not send the message described by Dr. Fleming.

On the other hand, though I agree with almost everything Pat has to say, I question the bit about Ahmadinejad laying a wreath to show his solidarity with American victims. There is no doubt in my mind that he would say one thing while here, and go back to Iran to tell everyone that he had honored the Mujahadeen who struck a blow to the great satan. Iran is in fact a state sponsor of terror, we would not want to forget that Hezbullah is Iran's stooge and they committed terrorist acts Beunes Aires and murdered many Christians in Lebanon. Its just that going to war with them is not justified anymore than Iraq, as they have done nothing to threaten Americans. There is no American interest in Persia. There is an interest to the elite bankers and politicians and that is oil. That is why all this has been drummed up as it has.

My conclusion? I actually agree with Hawkins that hasty withdrawal i a mistake, but I must ruefully conclude that neoconservatism is a contagious disease: In adopting their position on the Middle East, Hawkins has adopted their bad manners, becoming as big a boor as David Frum or Norman Podhoretz. The reverse seems to have happened to Hitchens: As a professional boor, he loved the Podhoretzes' bad manners and then fell in love with their bad principles.

"That the Iranian president has PR in mind is undoubtedly true. Much of what national leaders do is symbolic. But that wreath-laying would have said something else, as well.

"It would have said that, to Iran, these Americans were victims who deserve to be honored and mourned and, by extension, the men who killed them were murderers. Bin Laden celebrates 9-11. So do all America-haters. By laying a wreath at Ground Zero, the president of Iran would be saying that in the war between al-Qaida and the United States, he and his country side with the United States." -Pat

It's known as an 'olive branch' ... when we're told to embrace our alleged foes' pacific gestures ... and an obscenity when we are told to reject such gestures. HOWEVER who is it doing the 'telling' ... well, the media belonging to our Real enemies at home (who have corraled our own air-waves here at home and used their hegemony of them to brainwash most of us) and/or slap us down, when we awake momentarily. Today we here in America are the vanquished.

Frankly speaking we're all the palestinians now... except for the minority ruling elite, most of whom by now are monsters and have been for decades. But for- the cosmetics - applied to their images by Their MEDIA. The funniest example of this is ruddy. he's the one who allowed for 9/11 and then allowed for the cover up... but the [neocon] media spun him as the hero and america's mayor. funny. HAHAHA - funny universe. did he ever take responsiblity and have shame for it happening on his watch as mayor. of course not... hahahaha... he just gets cell phone calls now from his wife at NRA meetings... infantile america. what a jerk. him and steve martin. except steve's a clown by trade. ol'Sparky now run for el presidente.
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Also Pat avoids an obvious comparison between Ahmedinejad and a prominent world leader. How many unprovoked wars of aggression against a peaceful nation has Ahmedinejad launched? I believe the proper word for Ahmedinejad's moral stature is probably "pigmy," but nonetheless he is a Hercules compared to the tiny homunculus in the Oval Office.

I live in Europe (UK) and from what I see there are few American vices that aren't exceeded by those of Europeans, certainly amongst the political class. Re Clinton's philanderings, most Eurotrash leaders don't have their adulteries reported, but we do know that while Clinton was cavorting in the Oval Office, our own Prime Minister John 'Back to Basics' Major was having an affair with fellow cabinet minister Edwina Currie. Of the current Labour govt, the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott had a well publicised affair with a secretary in his employ, a case at least as bad as Clinton's - and Prescott paid no price other than some embarrassment.

I'll answer only the opening lines of Mr. Buchanan's article (and I'll "borrow" from Mr. Peters):

Absolutely NOT, however this is only the tip of the iceberg when we conclude that "the New Left with their polymorphous perversity of feminism and gay rights and the Neo-Conservatives with their warmongering and pro-Israeli-government mantra." The social developement in North America lacks terribly in comparison to Europe. Some essential degree of "maturity" (not necessarily POLITICAL maturity) gets reached by the age of 30 or so, and many of us (Americans) go through a myriad of infantile gymnastics well into our 40s, 50s and even 60s. I don't feel like giving names and examples - it will spoil my lunch. We all know who they are. Just look at Clinton's behavour in the office - would any mature adult (let alone, with some semblance of ethics) do that? Hell no.

The question is unfortunate, but the answers (the way I see them) are even more discouraging. Not that this is connected, but I have a nasty feeling this exactly why Hemingway took his own life - never mind the liquor. It is the dreadful realization that the world around us is very very very hopeless, and we are on a very long downward spiral.