The Fars news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran is running a headline on an article today that makes me downright queasy:

"American Thinkers Write to White House in Support of Iran"

The text of the article reveals that by "American Thinkers" the agency means "professors, academicians, students and former US officials."

The article text uses the phrase "The American thinkers" again, so obviously somebody at the Fars news agency is trying to appropriate the phrase and apply it to a group of leftists.

These people do not stand out as thinkers. The agency's listing has the ring of 19th century Marxist understanding of the intelligentsia in its use of categories. Given the increasing convergence of Marxist and Islamo—fascist interests in the global struggle, it isn't surprising to see such influences in the foreign language media produced by Iran.

Hat tip: a reader in Germany

Thomas Lifson   5 16 06