Baby Boomers and the 9/11 Generation

[SteveMetz]

Disco

Seriously, though, seriously, I know Bill, like him, and often agree with him. But as I finish the third scrub on my book chapter dealing with the decision to intervene in Iraq in which he plays a significant role, I am forced to ask: How does he have ANY credibility left after being so patently wrong so many times on THAT issue?

[tequila]

Disco

Seriously, though, seriously, I know Bill, like him, and often agree with him. But as I finish the third scrub on my book chapter dealing with the decision to intervene in Iraq in which he plays a significant role, I am forced to ask: How does he have ANY credibility left after being so patently wrong so many times on THAT issue?

Pundit immunity.

For some reason, our professional class of media loudmouths is never held accountable for when they are wrong. This goes not just for the Iraq War but for most other issues as well. Indeed, book deals often result (for Iraq alone: Kenneth Pollack, Peter Beinart, Thomas Friedman, Max Boot, Jeffrey Goldberg, Judith Miller, Ralph Peters, and I'm sure many others).

Pundits should have batting averages for when they're flatly right or wrong on their various predictions posted next to their bylines. It'd help to know if you're dealing with Tony Gwynn or Mario Mendoza when you're reading their latest argument.

[Rex Brynen]

Pundit immunity.

For some reason, our professional class of media loudmouths is never held accountable for when they are wrong. This goes not just for the Iraq War but for most other issues as well. Indeed, book deals often result (for Iraq alone: Kenneth Pollack, Peter Beinart, Thomas Friedman, Max Boot, Jeffrey Goldberg, Judith Miller, Ralph Peters, and I'm sure many others).

Pundits should have batting averages for when they're flatly right or wrong on their various predictions posted next to their bylines. It'd help to know if you're dealing with Tony Gwynn or Mario Mendoza when you're reading their latest argument.

Bill Maher made a similar point about think tanks

[SteveMetz]

Pundit immunity.

For some reason, our professional class of media loudmouths is never held accountable for when they are wrong. This goes not just for the Iraq War but for most other issues as well. Indeed, book deals often result (for Iraq alone: Kenneth Pollack, Peter Beinart, Thomas Friedman, Max Boot, Jeffrey Goldberg, Judith Miller, Ralph Peters, and I'm sure many others).

Pundits should have batting averages for when they're flatly right or wrong on their various predictions posted next to their bylines. It'd help to know if you're dealing with Tony Gwynn or Mario Mendoza when you're reading their latest argument.

At least Ken Pollack did some introspection to try and figure out where he went wrong ("Spies, Lies, and Weapons: What Went Wrong," Atlantic Monthly, Jan/Feb 2004)

Kind of reminds me of one of the very cool moments in my life. When I was on the faculty of the Air War College in the early 90s, we were holding a Vietnam Retrospective. I agreed to escort Westmoreland. So I sat in the O Club having breakfast with three people at the table: Westie, me and Walt Rostow. I just soaked in the amazing conversation between those two. But, I was struck that Westmoreland's position had not moved one millimeter since 1968, while Rostow was in the midst of serious introspection to try and figure out where he went wrong.

Which leads me back to my point. I suspect that Kristol, Perle, Feith, Rumsfeld, etc. will concoct (or have concocted) a "stab in the back" explanation for Iraq rather than simply admitting that they knew nothing about that country and thus read it wrong.

I did like your analogy though. In my own predictions, I try to stay above the "Mendoza Line."

[Stu-6]

I think if you seriously looked you can find accomplishments and failures in any generation. Kristol is selling magazines and little else with this article; his generation is quite good at that, debate whether or not that is an accomplishment.

Bottom line the greatest generation probably wasn’t much greater than any other they just had more obvious accomplishments.

Stu-6 “Gen-X”

[Mark O'Neill]

Steve,

I have to challenge you about the Disco call, what can one fault about that great Aussie Disco export, the Bee Gees??


MTO

[SteveMetz]

Steve,

I have to challenge you about the Disco call, what can one fault about that great Aussie Disco export, the Bee Gees??


MTO

Gag! I think they were actually mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

I would like to suggest that the slate of answers in the poll that started this thread is incomplete. I myself am "strongly uncertain."

[Mark O'Neill]

Gag! I think they were actually mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

If they weren't they certainly deserved to be...

Will send you an email in the next day or two about deployment and related issues,

Best,

Mark

[goesh]

I retract everything I said about my generation having forgotten about Disco - blame it on senility I guess and polyester, plaid polyester - many of us should be put against the wall for that

[JeffC]

Pundit immunity.

For some reason, our professional class of media loudmouths is never held accountable for when they are wrong. This goes not just for the Iraq War but for most other issues as well. Indeed, book deals often result (for Iraq alone: Kenneth Pollack, Peter Beinart, Thomas Friedman, Max Boot, Jeffrey Goldberg, Judith Miller, Ralph Peters, and I'm sure many others).

Pundits should have batting averages for when they're flatly right or wrong on their various predictions posted next to their bylines. It'd help to know if you're dealing with Tony Gwynn or Mario Mendoza when you're reading their latest argument.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've suggested that very thing!