"I erred in underestimating the brutality and cynicism of a regime that understands the use of ruthlessness."
You "erred"? After months of hectoring and haranguing us on a weekly basis, you "erred"? No, Roger, you were "wrong big-time": Iran is indeed "totalitarian".
I am curious: Did you learn anything from your mistake?
Do you now understand that someone who does not speak the local language and has not spent meaningful time in the relevant part of the world is ill-equipped to opine on such matters?
Are you now aware that your op-ed concerning the frightened, remaining members of Iran's Jewish community was myopic and self-serving?
Can you now understand Israel's existential concerns vis-a-vis Iranian development of nuclear weapons?
Do you now feel any regret that you devoted only a single sentence during these many months to the horrifying persecution of Iran's Baha'is?
I await your answers.
Let me tell you what I did not include in this comment for fear of again being censored: I wanted to ask Cohen if he was aware of and sorry for the torrent of antisemitism prompted by his op-eds in New York Times' online comments.
Krugman and Rich recently wrote op-eds complaining of the hatred spawned by the right-wing media. I wish they had taken the time to look in the mirror and see the rabid antisemitism and calls for violence in response to New York Times' op-eds.
It is high time for both the right and left to turn down the rhetoric and emphasize a culture of tolerant, reasoned debate. Anyone listening?
