Here's an amusing little exercise, at the expense of New York Times columnist Tom Friedman. Take the following paragraphs from Friedman's latest offering, and perform a simple process of substitution: wherever you see 'Baathist' or 'Islamist'  or 'al Qaeda,' substitute 'Democrat' 'Kerry' or 'liberal.' Wherever Freidman writes 'Iraq' substitute 'America.'

We are up against some really evil, cynical forces: die—hard Baathists, Qaeda—inspired Islamists and criminals. They continue to kill large numbers of innocent Iraqis without ever spelling out a political demand. That's because their only interest is that America fail. They have no coherent vision for Iraq. Their only vision is that America must fail. Because if the U.S. succeeds in tilting Iraq onto a more progressive track, Baathism and Islamism will be diminished everywhere.

There is nothing more difficult to fight than an enemy whose only interest is that you fail and who has no interest in building a positive alternative. That kind of enemy can only be overwhelmed and crushed

Posted by Ed  06 10 04