Solomonia Archive: Neo-Con Humiliates MESA Head in Ecosystem Show-Down!

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Neo-Con Humiliates MESA Head in Ecosystem Show-Down!

And in further self-tooting news, at the time I write this, Solomonia.com has moved up to #96 on the Truth Laid Bear Blogging Ecosystem rankings, making me a "Playful Primate" -- the highest ranking that I have achieved (that I'm aware of).

Now, in all candor, it's merely a quirk of the ecosystem that I am ranked that highly, and in no way do I have the influence of the others ranked highly on the list, but it did give me a grin when I noticed who I had edged out at #97. Why if it isn't none other than Mr. "Informed Comment" himself, Juan Cole, which can't help but tickle a Likudnik neo-con Zionist like myself. All are terms of derision bandied-about by "Middle East expert" Cole that help, along with his Sharon obsession, color to virtual unusability his commentary on his supposed area of expertise, such as blaming "Ariel Sharon's iron fist policies" for 9/11, even though Sharon was in the opposition at the time, or his infamous "for the war, against the war, can't decide" flip-flopping. The association of which he is president, the Middle East Studies Association, also has a record of scholarship compromised by politics that is well documented.

Here's Martin Kramer on Cole's latest follies, and few expose the Juan Cole foibles better than Tony at Across the Bay (just scroll).

Update: Take note of this spew of nuttiness that Cole first posted on his blog, then thought better of and deleted. It shows what kinds of things go through a fevered brain. (The aforementioned Martin Kramer is the target. Kramer saved the entry before it was deleted.)

PS the wonderful folks over at Daily Kos, to whom I am most grateful for defending me, should please do up an oppo research diary on Martin Kramer. Who is he? Where did he come from? When he was head of the Dayan Center in Tel Aviv, to whom did he report in the Israeli intelligence community? Who funded his work on Hizbullah? Was he fired from heading the Dayan Center? How does he suddenly show back up in the US after a 20-year absence with a book that blames unpreparedness for 9/11 on US professors of Middle East Studies instead of on the Israeli Mossad and the US CIA/ FBI? What was his role in getting up the Iraq War and in advising the US on the wrong-headed policies that have gotten so many Americans killed? Who pays his salary, now, exactly? What are his links with AIPAC, and with the shadowy world of far-right Zionist think tanks and dummy organizations? I.e., don't let Kramer tie you up with his salvoes on minutiae.

Update 7/15: A day later and I have already fallen below the evil one. This cannot stand! Blogroll Solomonia today!

Meanwhile, Martin Kramer comes back with a devastating blog post responding to Cole's call for "oppo research." Kramer surely "gets" blogging. [Edit: Do NOT miss clicking on the links -- particularly the links to pictures. They add sooo much. Well done!]

Posted by Solomon at 3:57 PM on Thursday, Jul 14, 2005 | Comments (2)
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2 Comments

#1 Anna | July 14, 2005 4:42 PM

Amusing post, but I think there is something real here.

What the numbers show is that the common sense of Solomon is seen by more poeple as being worth linking to than the wierdly-distorted, all-Muslims-are-victims-of-western-imperialism view of the world promoted by Juan Cole.

I find this not at all surprising.

#2 alene | July 15, 2005 12:03 AM

Kramer's smackdown is very funny. What's funnier is Cole's question, "What was his role in getting up the Iraq War and in advising the US on the wrong-headed policies that have gotten so many Americans killed?" Kramer was against invading Iraq; he hopes, but doubts, Arab democracy. IIRC, Pipes was also lukewarm to the project. It's perfect ignorance, again! Cole's stereotype defines his reality. Facts? Don't bother him with no f***in' facts.991669