Thomas Freidman (The New York Times): The Way We Were

[Jack Rabbit]

Fro The New York Times
Dated Sumday November 23

The Way We Were
By Thomas Friedman

We've all had our ups and downs since 9/11, but last week's events in London tested even my congenital optimism. I was a participant in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Marshall scholarships. The Marshalls were created by the British government to honor Secretary of State George Marshall and to express Britain's gratitude for the Marshall Plan. Over the last 50 years, some 1,400 Americans have attended Oxford, Cambridge and other British universities on Marshall scholarships, paid for by British taxpayers. Twenty-eight years ago, I was one of those lucky Americans.
On Wednesday, for the 50th anniversary, the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission gathered all the Marshall scholars now in Britain and British dignitaries who have supported the program, with Prince Charles presiding. The event, held at the University of London, was timed for the Bush visit, because Secretary of State Colin Powell, the keynote speaker, was one of five Americans being presented with the first Marshall medals. There were a few protest banners waiting for Mr. Powell around campus, but nothing extraordinary. Prince Charles showed up with what appeared to be one security guard.
But there was no Colin Powell.
A few hours earlier, the organizers were told that Mr. Powell was canceling, because of "security concerns" . . . .
Bin Laden is supposed to be on the run — not us. What good is driving bin Laden into a cave if our secretary of state has to live in a bubble? When Mr. Powell can't deliver a speech in London — London — then why travel anywhere?

Friedman, who supported Mr. Bush's invasion of Iraq, still doesn't seem to understand just how much contempt that misbegotten war and its architects are held worldwide. Friedman is as obtuse as the Frat Boy himself.

[Ksec]

1. You play with fire and you get burnt

Im glad they cant go anywhere. Serves them right. Imperialism is not the American way/

[wtmusic]

2. Rall says it all

He hopes if he just keeps pretending like he didn't support the war we'll forget.

[The Zanti Regent]

3. Ted Rall exposes Tom of Finland Friedman for the NAZI he is

Priceless!

Hey Tommy, why don't you go to Walter Reed and tell my 23 year old nephew how good he was for taking an Iraqui bullet that cut his spinal cord and left him a quadraplegic?

Tommy, are you going to tell him to live with it?

BURN IN HELL TOMMY!

[LittleApple81]

4. I am so sorry for your nephew. Reality like this leaves me speechless.n/t

[Classical_Liberal]

6. [e-mail]

Send this to him personally, only without the nazi part. He needs a guilt trip.

[Jacobin]

8. Glad Rall took a swipe at this dangerous freak

I remember his article in NYT last November: "Just Give War a Chance".

He was a constant talking head cheerleading for the war.

Now he's spinning around trying to make everyone still like the idea, even though we are getting our asses handed to us.

Warmongering shallow dingbat freak.

[MasonJar]

5. I am so sorry

I am so sorry for your nephew; Can we get this message out to Freidman from you personally? Also if we can get rid of Stump, maybe the stem cell research will be able to eventually repair your nephew.

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Tommy never answers my mail

I have repeatedly sent e-mails to this worthless little chickenfart.

He never responds.

I hope his son goes off to war and has the same thing happen to him.

LIVE WITH IT????

FUCK YOU, TOMMY!

[sam sarrha]

9. Dubya didn't want to be upstaged by a "Black Man".....

[Wetzelbill]

10. I've been saying for awhile, he may be losing his mind

He's a smart man, absolutely wishy-washy though. He write more WTF? columns than any columnist I know of, at least the ones who aren't partisanly nuts like say Krauthammer anyway. Guys like that don't count.

I cannot believe this is the same guy who wrote "From Beirut To Jerusalem." He has been so bad at times that I'll glance over a few paragraphs and if he isn't spewing that "Iraq Model Democracy" shit I might read it. He's just getting to be not worth wasting time on. Dowd is a parody of herself nowadays, but at least she's fun to read and makes some sense. Friedman is flat out goofy most of the time.