Category: The Washington Post Column

Just for a moment, let’s pretend that there is no moral, legal or constitutional problem with torture. Let’s also imagine a clear-cut case: a terrorist who knows where bombs are about to explode in Iraq. To stop him, it seems that a wide range of Americans would be prepared to endorse “cruel and unusual” methods. Continue reading “The Torture Myth”

During the past eight months there have been many news cycles, many front-page stories, many events. There have been elections. There have been hurricanes and tidal waves. Nevertheless, in the grand scheme of things, eight months is not a very long time. Continue reading “Does the Right Remember Abu Ghraib?”

Moscow — She had just turned 18. She was a freshman at a small American college. In flawless English, she explained that she was home for Christmas, visiting her family in Moscow. Continue reading “Russia’s Last Stand”

Just in case anyone actually thought that all of those people waving flags on the streets of Kiev represent authentic Ukrainian sentiments, the London Guardian informed its readers otherwise last week. Continue reading “The Freedom Haters”

Before the election, the government mobilized groups of thugs to harass voters. On the day of the election, police prevented thousands of opposition activists from voting at all. Nevertheless, when the votes were counted, it was clear that the opposition had won by a large margin. Continue reading “The New Iron Curtain”

When the ATM asks whether I want a receipt, I usually say no. When a Web site wants my credit card number, I usually say yes. Continue reading “In ATMs, Not Votes, We Trust”

Yesterday Germans celebrated the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Or, to put it differently, yesterday Germans marked 15 years of what has been the most peaceful, most comfortable, most orderly transition from totalitarianism to democracy ever — the polar opposite of the transition now taking place (if it is taking place) in Iraq. There was no violence, no unrest. There was no looting or pillaging. Continue reading “A German Lesson for Remaking Iraq”

Unlike 99.9 percent of the nation, I didn’t think that yesterday’s election represented a choice between good and evil. When I pressed the little button on the touch-screen voting machine, I did not do so feeling that the defeat of my chosen candidate would signify the onset of Armageddon. Regardless of the outcome, I knew I would neither be elated nor plunged into despair. Continue reading “Accept the Verdict”

According to Ayad Allawi, the Iraqi prime minister, Saddam Hussein is “distraught and depressed” and begging for mercy. According to others, Saddam Hussein spends his days playing dominoes with former cronies. Continue reading “Time to Tell Hussein’s Story”

“Just a few more miles, I’m sure we’ll see a pumpkin sign. There will have to be a pumpkin sign. Look, children,” I said, with forced enthusiasm, “there are the Blue Ridge Mountains!” Continue reading “The Gourd, the Bad and the Ugly”