Writes Joseph Stromberg:

Jonah Goldberg’s latest attempt at finding historical depth seems rather wanting. Conceding that 10 or so criticisms could easily be made of Bush’s policies in Iraq, he pretends to rebut them. The gist of his replies is: Would you have invaded Iraq any better? This is passing clever, but only because it excludes such questions as whether or not Bush & Co. had any right, reason, cause, etc. to invade Iraq at all.

Anyway, Jonah’s recovery consists of reiterating standard neo-con dogma about irrational, hate-filled “Anti-Americans” with whom we can’t negotiate, who must be taken out, etc., etc. The Cold War was manageable, say Jonah, because the Commies were rational and you could negotiate with them (oddly, National Review spent most of the Cold War denying just that). The present situation is not manageable at all, and therefore, no one may criticize George W for not managing it. Case closed. Jonah is right about one thing: he has indeed discussed the war in Iraq “with a brevity that makes a mockery of thoughtfulness and thoroughness.”

The Best of Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.