Beware of Indonesians Bearing Cultural Insights

GFR comments on and heartily excerpts some paywalled Nick Kristof content about Barack Obama's experiences growing up partially in Indonesia. "He once got in trouble for making faces during Koran study classes in his elementary school," writes Kristof, "but a president is less likely to stereotype Muslims as fanatics -- and more likely to be aware of their nationalism -- if he once studied the Koran with them." One would certainly hope so. On the other hand, the last major American political figure to be knowledgable about Indonesia was . . . Paul Wolfowitz. And we all know how that turned out.

Meanwhile, Democrats who opposed the surge sure do look foolish now that it's working so well.

3/6/07 11:26AM del.icio.us this incoming links

Comments

Meanwhile, Democrats who opposed the surge sure do look foolish now that it's working so well.

Clearly that is correct. Although the surge has not even been fuly implemented yet, Baghdad is relatively quiet, and the insurgents are moving away. Good of Matthew to notice that those of us who have been saying all along that more troops are needed are being utterly vindicated by events. Now, we need to continue and increase the surge.

Posted by: Al on March 6, 2007 11:38 AM

Steve Sailer had a classic description of Garance Franke-Ruta: a lady whose name was created by a random consonants generator :)

Posted by: Peter on March 6, 2007 11:44 AM

GFR on Obama's semi-hawkish but understandable foreign policy speeches: "Our current discussion of foreign policy is so parched that it's hard for people to wrap their minds around the fact that most of the Democratic presidential contenders are both hawk and dove, and that this is as it should be. Obama is so different than most of the men who have run for president in the past that it's hard to see how he manages to negotiate all the complications that arise from that difference. So far he's managing, but I suspect it's going to get very tricky."

GFR on Edward's semi-hawkish but understandable foreign policy speeches: "These nuances, I suspect, will be lost in the domestic political discussion, where Edwards' statements will get interpreted, depending on the analyst, as either a gross pander to ignorance or a brave effort to transform American rhetoric on Iran from all stick to some carrot, while leaving the threat of force on the table. At some point, it would be useful if Edwards could unpack all this in a detailed foreign policy speech."

Posted by: Tony V on March 6, 2007 12:08 PM

Al,
Of course there's less violence where the troops have gone in. It takes the insurgents a little while to figure out troop movements and possible points of weakness. Once they do (and they will), the fallout will make Rumsfeld look prescient. Second, just because the surge has tamped down violence in the immediate vicinity of the troops doesn't mean that its working. The strategy seems to have (temporarily) secured Baghdad at the expense of the suburbs.

Posted by: michesmith on March 6, 2007 02:34 PM

Obama and Wolfowitz may both know something about Indonesia, but I doubt Obama would run a spit-sodden comb through his hair.

Posted by: CJColucci on March 6, 2007 03:09 PM

Is it just me or was Senator Obama a Muslim at some point? If he isn't now, doesn't that make him a Muslim apostate? It doesn't matter to me but it might matter to over one billion Muslims.

Posted by: danceswithgoats on March 6, 2007 05:20 PM

It's just you.

Posted by: tequila on March 6, 2007 06:46 PM

My understanding is that his dad was an atheist, his mom a Christian and his step-father a Muslim.

Posted by: Reality Man on March 6, 2007 06:56 PM

Re Wolfowitz

Mr. Wolfowitz is an Arab lover who had the temerity to go before an AIPAC meeting and endorse an independent Palestinian Statek to a round of boos.

Posted by: SLC on March 6, 2007 08:22 PM

Steve Sailer had a classic description of Garance Franke-Ruta: a lady whose name was created by a random consonants generator :)

And I have a classic description of Steve Sailer - a pseudo-scientific quack and fascist shitbag.

Posted by: Alex on March 7, 2007 06:00 AM

How do you keep track of 220 million people when they all use only one name? It is difficult enough with Brazilian and Portugese footballers let alone the entire populace.

Posted by: Ronaldohinoito on March 7, 2007 06:58 AM

Thanks
Best regards
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