I was once one of Thomas Friedman's biggest fans. In the year's following 9-11, I feverishly awaited the publication of each of his columns, my thirst insatiable. Tom offered a unique, first-hand crash course on the hornet's nest that rocked my world and I wanted to study all of it.
After a few years, I was struck with a revelation; while I still found his observations interesting, a rub developed over how he interpreted his data. I experienced a similiar sensation while trying to reread Ayn Rand fifteen years after college. I found the author's philosphy didn't connect with me on the same level.
It was then I realized Tom was reminding me of an idealistic, naive and slightly spoiled teenager. While I still liked his first-hand experience, I now had to filter his interpretations. In essence, I had outgrown him.
Tom lives a charmed life. He enjoys a Cart Blanche position with the ultra -liberal New York Times. He travels where ever he choses and covers whatever he likes. Today he is a best-selling author. Television's chattering classes are practically in awe of him. He has had a hell of a run but has one significant problem; Thomas Friedman is too close to his subject matter, while too far removed from everyday reality. As a result has lost his perspective. This is clearly apparent in the positions he takes, the fingers he points and the anger he expresses.
Tom's criticism of the Bush Administration runs along two themes. The first is that they tried to do the Iraq War "on the cheap." The second is that they sold the war to the American people as another Grenada (translation: easy win) . Both are flawed and incorrect.
I have never once read a column where Tom called out all of those in the media who have sabotaged the administration and it's ability to lead this war. If Tom exposed how the Administration had to walk on eggshells to satisfy a mostly spoiled, unrealistic public that is used to victimless, video game wars like Gulf 1 and Bosnia, I would have more respect for him but he never has. In true Monday morning quarterback style, he simply blames the administration as if they govern in a vacuum.
Tom's claim that the Bush Administration tried to sell America an easy war is simply delusional. The president has said publicly, time and again, that the war will be long, costly and painful. Here Tom is simply flat (as in the world is) out wrong.
I believe there is still much to gain from reading Tom Friedman. However, I think it is time Tom took a step back and analyzed the origins of his anger. Perhaps he has spent so much time in the Middle East and placed so much hope on a war he strongly supported that his disappointment has been inappropriately focused on his government, much like a spoiled teenager blaming his parents.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Know, Don’t Help
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: March 7, 2007
I haven’t kept count, but it seems to me that the number of times I’ve seen President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney give speeches about the Iraq war using smiling soldiers as their backdrops have been, well, countless. You’d think that an administration that has been so quick to exploit soldiers as props — whether it was to declare “Mission Accomplished” on an naval vessel or to silence critics by saying their words might endanger soldiers in battle — would have been equally quick to spare no expense in caring for those injured in the fight.
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/opinion/07friedman.html
