More on David Brooks:

We discussed (two posts below) Brooks' essay that attempts to de-link neoconservatives and the Project for the New American Century from Bush's foreign policy. We only highlighted Brooks notion that Bush "formed conclusions on his own", thinking that was funny. However, his essay requires a further thrashing. To begin with, let's see how uninfluential PNAC is in the administration. Consider this diagram we published last February:



See? It was only the Vice President and Secretary of Defense who - with another 11 government officials - signed on to the PNAC agenda.

Then, read Brooks.

Then, read Howler's excellent discussion on Brooks (focusing on the anti-Semitic charge).

Finally, if you are still with us, catch Josh Marshall's review of Brooks. Excerpts:

We’ve now gone from arguments where anti-Semitism is perceived at the margins of critiques of neoconservative intellectuals to the current practice in which it is treated as a given that 'neoconservative' is simply a code word for Jew and criticisms of the same are one shade or another of anti-Semitism.


[Brooks] aim is to discredit any notion that neoconservatism plays any significant role in Bush administration foreign policy --- a demonstrably ridiculous point. Brooks does this by mixing in all sorts of code words about ‘conspiracies’, ‘jews’, radio communications through dental filings and the like to stigmatize as ridiculous what is actually a serious issue and ripe field for serious debate.

It’s almost the definition of anti-intellectualism.

UPDATE: The original post had us writing about the V.P. and Secretary of State signing on to the PNAC agenda. Should have been Secretary of Defense. Thanks to SP and Mark for correcting us.

posted by Quiddity at 1/06/2004 11:14:00 AM