articles 2/25

Der Spiegel
Could George W. Bush Be Right?
By Claus Christian Malzahn in Berlin
Germany loves to criticize US President George W. Bush's Middle East policies -- just like Germany loved to criticize former President Ronald Reagan. But Reagan, when he demanded that Gorbachev remove the Berlin Wall, turned out to be right. Could history repeat itself?

AP
U.S. Economy Grew Better Than Expected in 4th Quarter
The economy grew at a solid 3.8 percent annual rate in the final quarter of 2004 — stronger than previously estimated.

The War on the War on Poverty
Bush's theory of domestic policy is more profound than "compassionate conservatism."
by Myron Magnet

Facing Evil
"Hotel Rwanda" forces a look at mass murder.
by Daniel Henninger

Chris Rock
The William F-ing Buckley of stand-up.
By John Swansburg

Comeback Kid
Newt Gingrich's new book has much pretension, few details, and 2008 written all over it.
by Alexander Barnes Dryer

Leaving Gaza
by Charles Krauthammer
On Sunday, Feb. 20, Israel crossed two Rubicons. The Cabinet decided once and for all to withdraw from Gaza and dismantle 25 settlements -- 21 in Gaza and 4 in the upper West Bank.

Hillary the Chameleon
by David Limbaugh
I have always considered Hillary Clinton a formidable politician, but I haven't really feared a Hillary presidency because I haven't thought she was electable. I'm not quite as sure anymore.

All cowboys now
by Austin Bay
For democracies that shirked the showdown in Iraq, George Bush's remarks are gentle acid, but it is medicine Old Europe knows it has to swallow.

American Politics In The Networking Era
by Michael Barone

Wired.com
Watchdogs Sniff Out Terror Sites
Internet Haganah is taking the fight against terrorism online, and it's been able to shut down -- at least temporarily -- hundreds of sites through pressure on ISPs.
By John Lasker.

AP
Anglican Leaders Seek Split Over Gay Issue
Anglican leaders struggling to resolve explosive differences over homosexuality have asked the U.S. Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to temporarily withdraw from a key council of their global communion because of the election of a gay bishop in the United States and the blessing of same-sex unions there and in Canada.

Is the Marine Corps P.C.?
by Mona Charen
Second Lt. Ilario Pantano was making a six-figure income as an energy trader with Goldman Sachs in New York when the World Trade Center was attacked.

Merchants of Despair
Sort of for the war, sort of
by Victor Davis Hanson

Snake Charmer
Note to GWB: All them vipers are deaf.

Hate Slime
The Orwellian new law that wasn't.
By Dahlia Lithwick

Fortune
You're a CEO, Baby!
A baby speaks nonsense, but its handlers don't seem to notice. Sound like anyone you know?

NY Times
For a Start-Up, Visions of Profit in Podcasting
The primarily amateur Internet audio medium known as podcasting will take a small, hopeful step on Friday toward becoming the commercial Web's next big thing.

New power at shortstop shouldn't devalue Larkin's achievements
by Ken Rosenthal
Barry Larkin's career statistics are better than Alan Trammell's, but not dramatically better. Both belong in the Hall of Fame -- baseball historian Bill James rates Larkin sixth all-time among major league shortstops and Trammell ninth. It will be a shame if the recent emergence of several top sluggers at the position reduces the chances of either reaching Cooperstown.

Even with testing, offenses will be pumped up
by Ken Rosenthal
The silliest assumption I've heard in spring training is that offense will decline because Major League Baseball is adopting tougher steroid testing.