Cole: Disarmed And Dangerous

Unintentional money quote of the day from Juan Cole defending himself against Hitchens in a response which goes beyond the old joke about bringing a knife to a gunfight. Cole opted to leave the knife home and go after Hitchens with either a cuticle scissor, or a safety razor, it's hard to tell. Unfortunately, Cole still managed to cut himself, instead.

Cole: But then he should behave like a journalist, not like a hired gun for the far Right, smearing hapless targets of his ire.

The gist is that Cole would argue Iran's Ahmadinejad pronounced AhMightNeedaJob wasn't really saying Israel should be wiped from the face of the planet when he said Israel should be wiped from the face of the planet, he was simply saying Israel should be wiped from the face of the planet the way a poet might say Israel should be wiped from the face of the planet when he said, well, you know, Israel should be wiped from the face of the planet.

You can follow it through here.

Also, Tigerhawk has more.

Comments

[bryce]

It always surprises me when a major journalist goes after a blogger. In the end Juan Cole is going to get more publicity and recognition and Hitchens does not come away with much from it.

[MrsLevy]

Chris Hitchens? That drunken old queen. Is he still around?

Juan Cole brought all the weapons he needed to this fight. He's the
clear winner.

MrsLevy

[annie]

You know what they say Mrs Levy

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit!!!