MILT'S
FILE
April 2002
April
30, 2002:
THE LIFE OF SADDAM. Mark Bowden, famous for
authoring Black Hawk Down and Killing Pablo, looks
at the daily life of the Iraqi dictator in this month's Atlantic
Monthly. Saddam's days of relative comfort are, it would seem,
numbered--but that has been a consistently wrong prediction for
decades.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
QUESTIONING OUR MIDDLE EAST POLICY. Even the Wall Street Journal
editorial page, usually a loyal supporter of the administration,
is skeptical of our recent actions in the Middle East. This commentary
questions whether it is reasonable to use the term "policy"
as a proper description.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
IN OUR OWN BACKYARD. Disturbing news today about a possible link
between an American Islamic charity and Osama bin Laden--all the
more troubling because that charity is based in the Chicago area!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE POLITICS OF SCIENCE. A fascinating look at the role of science
in our society, in the context Ricahard Lewontin's review essay
of three important new books on the subject. It raises some profound
questions on the links between science, politics, and progress.
http://www.nybooks.com/
TRY THIS GREAT MODERN WORK BY HINDEMITH. You might like it!
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 29, 2002:
GEARING UP FOR A SECOND GULF WAR? This report
from The New York Times offers an apparent initial plan
for a future U.S. attack against Iraq, including the use of large
numbers of ground troops. Is this a leak of enormous magnitude,
or a calculated tactic from within the Pentagon?
http://www.nytimes.com/
EUROPE'S FAR RIGHT. The Economist here argues that, though
Le Pen's success in France is disheartening, Europe's far-right
is not the wave of the future, and is "far" from being
a new specter haunting the continent.
http://www.economist.com/
THE SKEPTICAL ENVIRONMENTALIST. Bjørn Lomborg's book of the same
title generated great attention throughout the scientific community
(and on this website!). Here, Lomborg responds to his many critics
in the pages of Scientific American.
http://www.sciam.com/
REMEMBERING
ROYKO. The great Tribune columnist Mike Royko died exactly five
years ago today--and we commemorate Royko tonight with a program
on his life and times. Here is a review of our friend Dick Ciccone's
book ROYKO: A LIFE IN PRINT, which originally prompted this evening's
show.
http://www.etext.org/
A RENAISSANCE MASTER OF SACRED MUSIC. Here is a wonderful performance
of Palestrina's Offertoria---beautiful enough to make an athiest
into a religionist, and a "high church" one at that.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 26, 2002:
DOES
IT GET ANY WEIRDER THAN THIS? I guess we must remember that there
are people driven mad by religious brooding in Saudi Arabia as
elsewhere. But do they usually have high-placed friends?
http://www.nationalreview.com/
BILL
BUCKLEY ON THE STATE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. One of the world's
leading Catholic laymen, never short on the readiness to explain
all, offers some very interesting thoughts.
http://www.uexpress.com/
HAS
THE AMERICAN PRESS BEEN FAIR TO ISRAEL? A recent major symposium
held at the Harvard Kennedy Center is reported here--both in print
form and in real video. Important stuff!
http://www.brook.edu/
AND
NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! Did you know that gossip
was good for you--actually essential for society? The social science
types at Oxford are ready to explain it all.
http://www.sirc.org/
FROM
BIG BANG TO INFLATION TO COSMOLOGICAL REINCARNATION. The cosmologists
have all the fun using the data of astrophysics to conjure up
scenarios for how and why there is anything rather than nothing.
This report opens a new--except for Hindus--perspective.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
A
MASTER OF MODERNITY. Shostakovich had his troubles with Stalin
but he left us a wonderful heritage of late, romantic and epic
music. Here is one of his great symphonies.
http://www.classical.ru:8080/
April
25, 2002:
A LEADING RUSSIAN POLITICAL SPECIALIST EXPLAINS
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HER COUNTRY. Lilia Sheftsova is a Russian
associate of the Carnegie Endowment. Her recent speech makes Putin's
Russia far more understandable. You can take your choice and read
it, or read a summary or hear it as delivered in March in Washington.
Just find the link that suits you.
http://www.ceip.org/
AN
AMERICAN EXPLANATION TO EUROPE. Cordesman (a former guest on Extension
720) wrote this paper about our Middle East policy for a major
European think tank. There is a lot in it worth thinking about!
http://www.eusec.org/
THE
AFFECTATIONS AND LINGUISTIC INCOMPETENCE OF "INTELLECTUALS". This
delightful and "on target" article is from the Woodrow Wilson
Quarterly; i.e. from a center for "scholars!"
http://wwics.si.edu/
MORE
ON THE STRANGENESS OF AMERICAN ACADEMIC LIFE. From the same issue
of the Wilson Quarterly comes this valuable and entertaining article
by Louis Menand who has just won the Pulitzer Prize.
http://wwics.si.edu/
WHY
DON'T THEY KEEP THEIR OIL AND WE KEEP OUR AID MONEY? We signaled
this development in a story posted yesterday. Is it time to get
tough with the Saudis? Your opinion is welcome at: EXTENSION720@TRIBUNE.COM.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/
A
CLEAR, STRONG REACTION TO THE NEWS FROM FRANCE. Chris Matthews
(a previous guest on Extension 720) reacts, with his usual lack
of understatement to the Le Pen vote and its meaning. http://www.nydailynews.com/2002-04-25/News_and_Views/Opinion/a-148734.asp
A
RENAISSANCE MASTER OF SACRED MUSIC: Here is a wonderful performance
of Palestrina's Offertoria---beautiful enough to make an atheist
into a religionist, and a "high church" one at that. http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April
24, 2002:
REMEMBER IRAQ? KRAUTHAMMER DOES. Late in Hamlet,
the prince's ghost-father chides him for forgetting "thy almost
blunted purpose." Krauthammer seems to be doing the same here
in a sharp and direct analysis.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
WHAT IS THE CROWN PRINCE UP TO? This article from the leading
English-language newspaper in Saudi Arabia lets a good part of
the cat out of the bag.
http://www.arabnews.com/
THE LE PEN-CHIRAC SAGA. There is every reason to expect Chirac
to win decisively BUT the size of the Le Pen vote will be interpreted
as an index of the gathering strength of neo-fascism in Europe.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/
HITCHENS (AND RANDALL KENNEDY) TAKE ON THE N-WORD. Chris Hitchens
(once a guest on Extension 720) is everybody's favorite fulminating
leftist. He strides in where others fear to tip-toe and here,
in a piece published by our leading left-wing journal, he bangs
away with his usual eccentric brilliance.
http://www.thenation.com/
HERE'S A HEARTBREAKER. Classical music is disappearing from radio.
The latest sign of its abandonment comes from National Public
Radio! Pretty soon you may need to get your classical fix from
"Milt's Music"
more than from any other available source.
http://opinionjournal.com/
ECLECTIC AND AUTHENTIC NASHVILLE. Some good items in this collection.
Try: "Your Cheating Heart" and "Broken Wing",
especially.
http://www.countrymusicplanet.com/
April 23, 2002:
KRISTALNACHT ANYONE? The new antisemitism popping
up around Europe--and then Le Pen's victory in France--are obviously
making some Jewish organizations worried. Is the worry overdone?
Your opinion is welcome at:
extension720@tribune.com.
http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/
THE CHARISMATIC, CRYPTO-FASCIST GETS A RISE OUT OF EUROPE. Le
Pen's victory in the first round of the French presidential race
is seen by many worried politicians and editorialists as a possible
harbinger of a general, anti-immigrant, rightwards turn in European
politics. And by no means in France alone.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
WANT A JOB IN RIYADH? Here is today's classified ads section from
Arab News, the Saudi English-language newspaper. Curiously,
many of the jobs specify required nationality such as Nepalese,
Filipino, Pakistani, Indian, etc. Hmmmmm.
http://www.arabnews.com/
WEST GOES SOUTH, CONT'D. In this article by a well-known (black)
linguistics scholar, Cornel West, formerly of Haahhvad and soon
to be of Princeton, gets some rather close and critical scrutiny--as
does the academic p.c. world that sustains him.
http://frontpagemag.com/
BORODIN'S SECOND SYMPHONY. Best known in the West for his opera
Prince Igor, Borodin did two fine symphonies. Here is the second,
briskly conducted by Gergiev.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 22, 2002:
ON WAR. A strong commentary on the nature of
the Middle East crisis and beyond by Eliot Cohen, a major strategic
studies scholar who here echoes Clausewitz.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
POWELL'S TRIP, CON'T. Another stinging critique of our confused
recent efforts in the Middle East, this from Fareed Zakaria of
Newsweek. The failure to utilize an undisputed spokesman,
he argues, is damaging our own war effort and the health of our
broader foreign policy.
http://www.msnbc.com/
A LESSON IN EUROPEAN POLITICS. Few Americans closely followed
the initial round of presidential elections in France this past
weekend, and fewer, perhaps, cared. But the stunning results were
nevertheless significant. The Socialist candidate (and current
Prime Minister) Lionel Jospin, recently thought the favorite,
finished third, and will miss the runoff between current President
Jacques Chirac and a far-right candidate, Jean-Marie Le Pen. Does
this signal a transformation in European politics, or merely the
unpredictability of the French electorate?
http://www.nytimes.com/
ADIEU, CORNEL. We have covered the Cornel West fiasco at Harvard
closely on these pages over the last few months. Here, after Mr.
West's decision to flee to Princeton, is an appropriate farewell
from The New Republic.
http://www.tnr.com/
THE "DARKER" HAYDN. By the time he reached his 102nd symphony,
Haydn sounded very much like the Beethoven to come.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 19, 2002:
THE TOTALITARIAN ROOTS OF TERRORISM. A constant
presence of the cable news channels, Benjamin Netanyahu may well
regain the Prime Ministership of Israel after the next round of
elections (still a ways off). In today's Wall Street Journal,
he addresses the root causes of terrorism.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
THE CASE AGAINST IRAQ. Our biggest obstacle in the Iraq question
may be opposition from the allies. Can a case be made to convince
them of the desirability of action? Framing the debate in legal
terms may not be the most spirited method, but Anthony Clark Arend
here tries to do just that.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
DEFENDING TOM RIDGE. The Office of Homeland Security, so grandly
announced, has become something of an afterthought. Though the
issue of security clearly remains of the utmost importance, the
office was not provided with the cabinet-level authority originally
conceived. Consequently, Tom Ridge, handcuffed from the start,
has become in many respects an object of scorn and pity. This
column provides a corrective of sorts.
http://www.economist.com/
WHO WAS DEEP THROAT? Time permitting after the ballgame next Wednesday,
we will be airing a tape with former Nixon lawyer and adviser
Leonard Garment, addressing the possible identity of Woodward
and Bernstein's mysterious White House source "Deep Throat".
Here are two interesting links: the first from The Washington
Post sizes up the possible 'suspects' (follow links at the
bottom of the page); the second, from The Atlantic Monthly,
is a fascinating analysis of the possible institutional motives
of "Deep Throat"--if he was from the FBI. Who do you
think he was? Let us know at:
extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://www.theatlantic.com/
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BRANDENBURG CONCERTO? Here's one of the
best: a wonderfully spirited performance from Boston and another--more
understated--from Germany.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 18, 2002:
A WASTED EFFORT? Colin Powell's visit to the
Middle East may have done more harm than good--at least to U.S.
interests in the region. Michael Freund of The Jerusalem Post
here offers a stinging critique.
http://www.jpost.com/
NATO IN PALESTINE. Once thought absurd, the prospect of a NATO
peacekeeping force (including U.S. troops) in Palestine may now
be a possibility; Tom Friedman of The New York Times has
been a notable advocate. This column from Robert Kagan argues
that the potential problems of such an option would likely far
outweigh the benefits.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
REFORMING U.S. INTELLIGENCE. An almost unanimous cry in the wake
of 9/11 concerned the failure of American intelligence to foresee
such cataclysmic events. It is true that the CIA did offer initial
warnings and had long been on the track of Al Queda--but clearly,
far too much was missed. Here, a lengthy piece from The Economist
spells out what needs to be done to improve our intelligence community.
http://www.economist.com/
REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR. Last night, we aired an interview with
Joseph Persico, discussing FDR and World War II. This fascinating
site includes radio broadcasts from December 1941, FDR's declaration
of war speech, and several popular songs, including "Remember
Pearl Harbor". A fine historical record of the period--warts
and all.
http://www.umkc.edu/
April 17, 2002:
THE RIDDLE OF AL QUEDA. No one really knows
what specifically remains of the Al Queda network, except to say
that some network does still exist. Just today, President Bush
warned of further terrorist attacks. Al Queda elements remain
active in Afghanistan (and, likely, in North Africa) and much
evidence has been gathered pointing toward its further planning
of even greater attacks against the West. This piece tries to
unravel what we now know, focusing in part on a mysterious trial
in Germany.
http://www.economist.com/
DID HE ESCAPE? Though Donald Rumsfeld has denied it, this article
from The Washington Post cites high-level sources admitting
that Osama bin Laden probably did escape from Tora Bora when the
U.S. failed to commit adequete ground forces. If true, this may
be our greatest failure since 9/11.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE LESSONS OF AIRPOWER, CON'T. Last month, we published the first
article in an Atlantic Monthly series on the evolution
of airpower, and its usefulness (and shortcomings) in modern war.
In Part 2, Michael Kelly examines the impact of the air war in
Vietnam on American military thinking--a substantial impact, to
say the least.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
THE BIOTERRORIST THREAT. Madeline Drexler published this article
soon after 9/11, in response to the anthrax scare. It remains
a useful piece about combatting infectious disease, and in the
process, bioterrorism. Hear more on Friday's Extension 720 as
she joins us in the studio to discuss "the menace of emerging
infections".
http://www.prospect.org/
THE INDEPENDENCE HALL JAZZ BAND. A small outfit from Philadelphia
that does traditional jazz in a fine breezy style. Listen especially
to Tishimongo Blues.
http://www.sterlingentertainment.com/
April 16, 2002:
A CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. Apparently, the rift
between the Departments of State and Defense continues to be quite
substantial. Here, a public break with the State Department from
Secretary Rumsfeld over our options in Iraq. One can only imagine
the disagreements that are taking place behind closed doors.
http://www.nj.com/
THE PHONY WAR. A strong critique of our war and defense policy
from Mark Helprin, a contributing editor to The Wall Street
Journal. Are we doing all that needs to be done in this effort?
http://www.nationalreview.com/
SOCIALISM: A BRIEF HISTORY. Our guest last night, Joshua Muravchik,
delivered this lecture on socialism over three years ago. Nevertheless,
it provides a solid summary of his latest book focusing on the
same subject.
http://www.aei.org/
NOBLEMAN OR NOBLE MUSICIAN? If he hadn't been tied to the family
business, old Rudolph might have done a good deal more along these
lines. What he did is surprisingly good.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 15, 2002:
ASSESSING POWELL'S TRIP. As expected, we have
seen little tangible progress from Secretary Powell's still ongoing
visit to the Middle East. Might this change in the coming hours?
It would, one fears, be foolish to hope so.
http://www.economist.com/
MISSING THE COLD WAR. The famous original essay, circa 1990, from
one of our favorite guests, John Mearsheimer. He predicted that
the geopolitical changes resulting from the end of the Cold War
would prove more tumultuous than we might have expected. Was he
right? Do we miss the Cold War?
http://www.theatlantic.com/
SOONER OR LATER ALL ENGLISH WRITERS TURN TO SHAKESPEARE. As did
the great essayist Charles Lamb back in the 1830's. This well
wrought essay will set you thinking about Shakespearean performance,
including all the fine films that Lamb never saw.
http://www.bartleby.com/
A GOOD "BIG BAND" FROM ATLANTA. Scroll to the bottom
for the selections. The Basie tune is particularly good.
http://www.mindspring.com/
April 12, 2002:
NEVER TO BE OUTDONE. When American students
mount the barricades they find the "enemy of convenience," usually
imitating the rioting students of Europe. This time it's the Jews--and
perhaps the next invited speaker at Harvard, instead of Angela
Davis, will be David Duke; or how about Louis Farrakhan? Read
this one and weep for the automaton, post-adolescents of the campus
and their exhibitionistic rages.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
DOES THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEDICAL OFFICE HAVE A PSYCHIATRIC
DIVISION? This needs no further comment but it should be read.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
THE TRAGIC STORY OF RWANDA. This important article from The
Atlantic Monthly, recommended to us by John Mearsheimer, recounts
the Rwandan genocide and why we did nothing to stop it. Samantha
Power's new book on American response to twentieth century genocide,
A PROBLEM FROM HELL, has generated much attention.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
A GREAT HISTORIAN VIEWS THE ULTIMATE MACHIAVELLIAN. Macauley is
a particular enthusiasm of the proprietor of Extension 720, and
his essay on Machiavelli (written about 150 years ago!) is amusing,
informative and adds great insight to our understanding of political
life.
http://www.bartleby.com/
BOBBY DARIN. A great collection of his recordings including his
classic version of "Mack The Knife".
http://community-2.webtv.net/
EMAIL OF THE DAY. This came in during last night's program on
the war and the Middle East. An interesting commentary:
While your panel has expressed learned opinions on the events
of the day, I fear that they have missed the big picture. This
IS a war of civilizations, and it was declared against us. It
is naive to believe that we can win the hearts and minds of the
Islamic world via diplomacy. The reservoir of Islamic hatred and
messianic fanaticism can not be reasoned with. They have goals
that will not be negotiated away by diplomats. I think we have
to accept this. The Potemkin village that is Saudi Arabia is a
fragile state waiting to implode. When the fanatics eventually
take over that country, the strategic lines will be clear. Unfortunately
I do not see any strategy that has been expressed that recognizes
this reality.
April 11, 2002:
THE MOTIVATIONS OF U.S. POLICY. Ever since
the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, critical observers
of U.S. policy in the Middle East have accused each successive
administration of pandering toward the so-called "Jewish
lobby". This important commentary from The Economist
makes a strong case that national interest, not domestic politics,
have historically guided our policies in the region.
http://www.economist.com/
MORT ON ARAFAT. Mort Kondracke, who was with us last Friday and
will be in the Extension 720 studio again in June, argues that
it is now or never for Yasser Arafat--and Mort's patience has
reached the breaking point.
http://www.rollcall.com/
THE DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN SAGA, CON'T. We've followed the plagiarism
charges against Stephen Ambrose and Doris Kearns Goodwin quite
closely. Here, a friend of the program, Wall Street Journal
editorial board member Dorothy Rabinowitz, offers her two cents--and
a sympathetic piece it is.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
THE SINE QUA NON OF THE BEATLES. George Harrison was the core
of the Beatles lyrical musicality. His version of "My Sweet
Lord" remains as hypnotic as it seemed on first hearing.
http://community-2.webtv.net/
A PRECURSOR FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. Our panel of David Grange,
John Mearsheimer, and Richard Friedman will discuss the war on
terrorism and the impact of the Middle East situation on our ability
to wage it. The following email came in this week, and is skeptical
about the merits of our current Middle East policy.
Once again I write to pose a question, in advance of your program
on Thursday, updating the war on terrorism. When I wrote in December
at the time of your "end of the year" news program, your guests
(or at least one of them) observed that this war may be with us
for a long time due to a general discontent among peoples of the
undeveloped Muslim countries. Some of this discontent could be
traced to our relationship to Israel, much not. I wonder if you
will be explicitly discussing Thursday the validity or strength
of this connection, given the most recent events in Israel and
the West Bank, and their likely short and long term effects.
I have no respect or feeling for Arafat and the Palestinians,
often questioning in my own mind to what extent it is a real "movement"
or who the "Palestinian" people really are. But I consider myself
a fairly smart person, and neither can I really understand anymore
the extent of our support for Israel, which right now seems to
think it is a law unto itself, ignoring even its strongest supporters,
as it ruthlessly tries to wipe out the opposition on the West
Bank. What's in it for the US to continue our support? I sincerely
do not get it - it's not self-evident, and especially now, IF
this feeds the discontent to widen and spread the "war of terrorism?"
Is it only our cynical self interest to maintaining a balance
of power in a strategically important place for us? I can't see
any other reason now. And what's the answer, other than ourselves
and allies like Great Britain moving in with peacekeeping forces,
almost like Bosnia? Hardly conceivable for many reasons. I hope
you may have time to address this on Thursday, as I'm convinced
there are many listeners like me.
April 10, 2002:
MORE VALUABLE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT'S REALLY
HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Krauthammer here illuminates some
of the ultimate issues and he is drawing, obviously, on some privileged
communication from inside the administration.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
AN ISRAELI LEFTIST (SORT OF) CALLS FOR CONTINUED AMERICAN PRESENCE.
Here is an interesting perspective from the intelligent Israeli
left (ambivalent because intelligent!) calling for a more permanent
American presence and giving the reasons why.
http://www.villagevoice.com/
THE PRESIDENT LEARNS THE ART OF DIPLOMATIC OBFUSCATION. I think
Tony Blankley has it exactly right and he explains correctly the
difference between the public and private side of Bush's performance
in the Middle East crisis.
http://asp.washtimes.com/
DOES THE WORLD HATE US? AND, IF SO, WHY DO THEY MODEL THEMSELVES
ON US--OR DO WE MODEL OURSELVES ON THEM? Yes, it does sound a
little muddled--but it is all clarified in this very sharp and
entertaining essay.
http://chronicle.com/
THE FAILURE OF SOCIALISM. Roger Kimball provides a fine review-essay
based on Joshua Muravchik's important new book. And Muravchik
will be a guest on Extension 720 next Monday, April 15.
http://www.newcriterion.com/
MOZART'S JUPITER SYMPHONY. A fine performance at the Mainly Mozart
Festival. The andante movement is beautifully performed.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
WE DEPEND ON OUR FRIENDS TO EDUCATE US. And here is a good example,
in an e-mail just in, of how much expertise is out there in the
audience. From now on it will be "click" rather than "link." Unless
you disagree?
I am the Technology Director for a somewhat large sized Illinois
school district. As such I feel I am qualified to point out a
mistake you are making when you describe the process in which
to navigate the WGNRADIO web site.
You are quite correct when you mention the web site address of
wgnradio.com and correct once again when you instruct callers
to "scroll down" the list of names on the left side of the page.
You are not correct when you use the term "LINK ON" the name MILT
ROSENBERG. This implies the word LINK is being used as a verb.
In fact the item is a hyperlink (or hypertext link) and you "click"
on it. While the item may very well be "linked" to another area
of the web site and it is in itself a "link", you do not "link
on the link".
So I would say the most correct thing to say would be: Scroll
down the list of names and click on the MILT ROSENBERG link.
April 9, 2002:
CAN WE STOP TERRORISM THROUGH "INTELLIGENCE"?
It's a crucial issue and it is well discussed in the following
transcript.
http://www.pbs.org/
DO YOU REMEMBER HAL LINDSEY? The multi-millionaire author of "The
Late Great Planet Earth" has been pushing his brand of apocalyptic
eschatology (i.e. the world is about to end, the "rapture" will
occur any day now, Jesus is about to return and the end of days
is at hand) despite the fact that all of the "end time" dates
he has predicted have come and gone while his books continue to
make him one of the country's richest "evangelists". In this theological
system EVERYTHING that happens in and to Israel is a "sign". Lindsey
is still at it--apparently with lots of followers--and we just
discovered his site. Read some of this for a "different" perspective
and tell us what you think by e-mail to: extension720@tribune.com.
http://raptureready.com/
THE EVER REMARKABLE STEPHEN HAWKING. An excellent interview story
on the master cosmologist who, despite all, still thinks, thinks,
thinks.
http://www.reason.com/
WILL SHARPTON BE SEEKING REPARATIONS FROM IRAQ AND IRAN? A good
review of an important book about black slavery in the Islamic
world.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/
MENAND WINS THE PULITZER. Here's an excerpt ftom Louis Menand's
"The Metaphysical Club". It has just--quite deservedly--won the
Pulitzer Prize. Menand is that rarity: a modern academic who writes
well and has important things to say.
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/
BERLIOZ' DAMNATION OF FAUST. One of the French master's greatest
works is here performed brilliantly in an English recording with
a number of Russian and French performers.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 8, 2002:
BERNARD LEWIS ON ISLAM (AND ISRAEL). Lewis,
Professor Emeritus at Princeton, is generally considered to be
the leading western historian of Islam. The views he presents
in this interview are of great pertinence for the present crisis.
http://cgis.jpost.com/
INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL PIPES. He has been heard often on Extension
720 in recent months. A Middle-East expert who was once a colleague
at the University of Chicago, and a former member of the State
Department Policy Planning Staff, Pipes is a leading "hard line"
scholar on Israeli-Palestinian affairs. Here he is interviewed
in a forthcoming issue of Insight magazine.
http://www.danielpipes.org/
KRAUTHAMMER ON ARAFAT. Admittedly a columnist with strong pro-Israeli
views, Krauthammer makes a strong case for the argument that Arafat
cannot be a bargaining partner. Read this forceful column and
tell us what you think by e-mail to: extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LEFTISTS CHECKS IN. Matt Rothschild is a fairly
frequest guest on our program and a good guy. He is also, to our
view, often reflexively predictable. And so he seems in this piece
from his magazine The Progressive. It does certainly contrast
with the Krauthammer column. E-mail your evaluation to: extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.progressive.org/
THEOPHRASTUS BOMBASTUS VON HOHENHEIM. Just to change the pace
a bit--here is some basic biographical material about one of the
most interesting figures at the dawn of medical science. With
a name like that (or "Paracelsus" as he chose to call himself)
how could he not become important, famous and infamous?
http://search.eb.com/
THE MYSTERIOUS MUSICOLOGIST. I have no idea who this person is.
He writes English with a German accent and many of his selections
are German--but the music is varied and gives much pleasure--and
perhaps the commentary illuminates something--but what?
http://www.zip.com.au
April 5, 2002:
A PREVIEW OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. Bill Kristol
will be on with us, together with Donald Kagan (the father of
Robert!) Undoubtedly, these views will be aired and argued.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
THE SOURCES OF TEENAGE TERRORISM. This largely unnoticed story
from the Miami Herald gets through on a number of touching
human points.
http://www.miami.com/
TROUBLE ON THE RADIO LEFT. Do you know about Pacifica? And about
how unpacific the world of left journalism can be--particularly
when foundation money is not as available as it used to be? Read
on--it is an instructive story and it's from our leading left-leaning
journal, The Nation.
http://www.thenation.com/
ANOTHER GERMAN PHILOSOPHER WHO MADE BIG TROUBLE! Nietzsche is
even more influential (and mad!) than was Heidegger. Here's a
good review of a new book about him.
http://www.newyorker.com/
GAD! Now how will we know what to read? Beyond that, no comment.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/
A GREAT VIOLINIST. Mischa Elman plays three transcriptions from
east European Yiddish folk music.
http://jewishmusic.com/
April 4, 2002:
HAMAS SAYS "THERE WILL BE NO ISRAEL".
Here is the hard reality that Israel faces even after the current
crisis subsides. What is to be done about the thousands (hundreds
of thousands?) of rejectionists?
http://www.nytimes.com/
ARAFAT PAYING FOR SUICIDE TERRORISM? The documents under discussion
in this important news story were discussed by our guests in Wednesday's
broadcast. Professor Talhami argued they were forgeries. Israeli
Vice Consul Roet asserted they were authentic and had "smoking
gun" significance.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/
THE CATHOLIC CRISIS, CONT'D. On this whole painful matter, the
major journalistic contributions have come from the Boston
Globe. Here is their web page linking you to just about all
the relevant stories from around the country.
http://www.boston.com/
LEO THE DEBUNKER. John Leo is one of our favorites. He sees through
all the politically-correct nonsense that bedevils our society
and is making a travesty of higher education. Here he zooms in
on "gender bias" at MIT.
http://www.usnews.com/
THE ACADEMIC FOLLIES: HOW STUPID PROFESSORS VIOLATE THE RIGHTS
OF THEIR COLLEAGUES. This one really gets me and I'm proud that
two organizations on whose boards I serve (FIRE and NAS) are on
the case.
http://www.thefire.org/
EARLY PROKOFIEV: AND GORGEOUS! A piano suite with orchestra accompaniment
and recorded in Australia.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 3, 2002:
THIS HAS TO BE FACED! Our ambivalent friends
in the Kingdom do seem to play both sides of the street. This
revealing article shows how Saudi funding has enabled terrorist
attacks.
http://theweeklystandard.com/
IT'S TIME TO GO AFTER SADDAM. So say the editorialists of The
Wall Street Journal. Read and ponder this well written piece
and then compare it to the next one on our file.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/
LEAVE SADDAM IN POWER. So says Neil Clark in the liberal British
journal, The Spectator. Who makes the better argument?
We welcome your reaction via e-mail to:
extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/
THE ACLU IN PURSUIT OF THE BOY SCOUTS. The issue, as you may remember,
is about the right to restrict homosexuals from being Scoutmasters.
The courts have ruled that the Scouts have that right. The ACLU
won't stop fighting. Here's an interesting commentary. Your opinion
would be welcome. Just e-mail to: extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.claremont.org/
EVOLUTION AND INTELLECTUAL PYROTECHNICS. An interesting piece,
from The Chronicle of Higher Education about America's
best known, most colorful and most controversial evolutionary
theorist.
http://chronicle.com/
TRADITIONAL--BUT MODERN--FLAMENCO. Listen to these four wonderful
songs performed by Estrella Morenta, the daughter of one of the
most famous flamencistas.
http://www.flamenco-world.com/
April 2, 2002:
DAN PIPES ON THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR. Pipes, a
frequent guest on our program, will be with us again (together
with Mort Kondracke, Donald Kagan and Congressman Henry Hyde)
this Friday as we go further in examination of the Middle Eastern
situation. Pipes is a "hawk" but a well-tempred one and his articles
are always worth reading and pondering.
http://www.nypost.com/
A LEADING ARAB-AMERICAN OPINES. Zogby had this piece published
in the Jordan Times just a few days ago. How do our listener-readers
respond? We would like to have your reactions via e-mail:
extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.jordantimes.com/
ANOTHER TAKE ON THE CATHOLIC CRISIS. And a good one, we think.
Golway is an always interesting contributor to an always interesting
e-paper, The New York Observer.
http://www.observer.com/
P.J. O'ROURKE IS AT HIS BEST HERE. He specializes in puncturing
the confusions and stupidities of the powerful and the (intellectually)
acclaimed--and this is one of his minor masterpieces in a genre
he virtually invented.
http://www.theatlantic.com/
THREE PERFORMANCES OF A GREAT WORK BY BRAHMS. His trio in A Minor
for clarinet, cello and piano. Try out all three!
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/
April 1, 2002:
ARE ISLAM AND THE WEST FATED FOR CIVILIZATIONAL CONFLICT? This
important paper from the Jaffee Center, Israel's leading institute
of strategic studies, illuminates a good deal about the threat
now facing Israel and the West.
http://www.tau.ac.il/
IN THE WAKE OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS. How shall we bomb thee?
Let us count the ways. With a population of six million Muslims
in France (and growing) this was probably inevitable. Can it happen
here?
http://www.upi.com/
AND ON THE OTHER HAND. An interview, on Saturday, with the Saudi
Foreign Minister. Apparantly all that stands in the way of pease
is Ariel Sharon!
http://www.time.com/
RACIAL PROFILING: THE LATEST DATA. Recently we did a debate between
David Harris and Heather MacDonald on "racial profiling". Here
is a new article by MacDonald, from the City Journal, which
further backs her assertion that racial profiling doesn't really
happen. Instead, according to her interpretation, more African
Americans get stopped because they more often meet other profiling
criteria. What do you make of all of this? E-mail is welcome at:
extension720@tribune.com.
http://www.city-journal.org/
WHO THE HELL WAS HEIDEGGER? Is the name familiar? All sorts of
modern "thinkers" and "intellectuals" (usually of leftist orientation)
claim this philosopher (and sometime Nazi!) as a basic influence.
Here is a clear-headed article that clarifies just what his thought
and life-history were all about.
http://www.tnr.com/
UGANDAN BOY SCOUTS SING! Here is a charming musical curiosity--try
it, you may like it and, if not, view it as an anthropolgical
experience.
http://www.ugandanetwork.org.uk/
Archive of Milt's File:
