The New Republic

This is the eve of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Introspection is the order of the day. The Jewish tradition divides sin into two categories, sins against God and sins against man, and insists that God can forgive the former but not the latter, because only the sinned against have the power to absolve the sin. This is why the asking of forgiveness is an act of supreme importance in this season. I myself have much to ask forgiveness for, and much of this asking will be done in private, as is appropriate. READ MORE >>

For more than a year, President Obama and his whole State Department team had been trumpeting our diplomacy--both in the United Nations and through intermediaries--to stop Iran's march to nuclear nirvana. There was much pretense in the effort, what with every rebuff by China (and other less powerful but more portentous states) treated by the White House and Foggy Bottom as another step to the grand agreement. Of course, this never happened. In fact, the behavior of China turns out to be the key to Tehran's petro-independence, which is the very basis of the atomic adventures. READ MORE >>

It is an awful narrative: According to the New York Times this afternoon the Census Bureau reported that “the poverty rate rose sharply in 2009.” To be precise, it rose to exactly 14.3%, a shift from 13.2% in 2008. The Times story is by Erik Eckholm who makes these statistics real by telling you what is counted in the numbers and what is not. Being above or below the poverty line is a matter of more-or-less arbitrary exclusions and inclusions. READ MORE >>

It’s a cliche already, and it’s only been one day. READ MORE >>

Nicholas Kristof and I do not see the world—and America's role in it—in the same way. I have sometimes expressed my disagreements with his opinions vociferously (vociferousness is my business). But in yesterday’s The New York Times, he quotes two sentences that I recently wrote—one of them genuinely embarrasses me, and I deeply regret it. READ MORE >>

Both General Petraeus and President Obama have made the argument that if Pastor Terry Jones and his congregation of Christian haters actually make their Koran bonfire Islamist fanatics will take it out on our troops on the Afghan (and Iraqi) war front. As it happens, I don't think that the First Amendment protects this ghoulish horror walpurgisnacht. Indeed, the founding fathers could not have in READ MORE >>

My new year's message yesterday told of a video about humming birds. READ MORE >>

This was my mother’s greeting for the Jewish new year. It wishes you and all of its receivers health, livelihood and deep gratification in life. It’s in Yiddish. So there’s heart in it. Among some younger Jews in both Israel and the U.S. there are some hipper salutations. “May you connect with yourself,” said a friend as I left Tel Aviv for Ben Gurion Airport. Alas, this struck me as ponderous and didactic. An Israeli friend sent me a little new year film clip of hummingbirds eating honey. READ MORE >>

The Dove World Training Center in Gainesville, Florida and its pastor Terry Jones plan a Koran bonfire on the ninth anniversary of the World Trade Center-Pentagon enormity. There are indications that other churches, the message of which is love, of course, are joining in the extravaganza.  It is just possible that Islamist Muslims, fanatic Muslims who also burn bibles and alien religious texts and flags, will be reminded of how disgusting the practice is. But don't count on it.  READ MORE >>

And he deserves it. READ MORE >>