Buckley

WFB, Confused?

I've long read William F. Buckley, but in recent years (say, the last two), I find his writing and his interviews almost incoherent -- and that's reflected by the fact that, despite having a very conservative blog (two of them, really), I can't recall the last time I blogged anything of his (if ever) because it's become so bad.

But it's one of those things I've just politely ignored. What else does one do when the icon of a movement no longer makes any sense? And then there's the case that it may just be me. I don't see anyone else critiquing Buckley, although a number of friends agree with me in conversation.

In any case, I offer this as Buckley's lastest example, although it makes more sense than some recent columns. It's odd, in that he simultaneously charges Ariel Sharon with pursuing a scorched earth policy akin to General Sherman's in the American Civil War (and Buckley, frankly, is just plain wrong here), and then chastises Sharon for not being more brutal (in a Machiavellian sense, I suppose).

His column does raise the question (not intentionally) of how to fight domestic terrorism, but unfortunately does not offer any real solution, or any convincing critique of the approach taken by Israel. In that sense, WFB's column is about as useful as Colin Powell, who's certain he finds Israeli actions distasteful, and is certain he wants peace, and is otherwise clueless (and, therefore, useless). I never thought I'd see the day when I was comparing WFB and Powell.

[Posted at 12:16 CST on 04/13/02] [Link]