Comments From Overseas [*]
The editors of The Guardian (London) write, in "The Case for Kerry": "To adapt the words of Talleyrand, the Bush presidency has been not merely a crime but a mistake. Mr. Bush has proved a terrifying failure in the world's most powerful office. He has made the world more angry, more dangerous and more divided -- not less. This, above all, is why it matters to us, as it should to Americans, that John Kerry is elected on Tuesday. A safer world requires not just the example of American power but the power of American example. Mr. Bush has done more to destroy America's good name in the world than any president in memory. Mr. Kerry provides an opportunity to begin to repair the damage. It is as simple -- and as important -- as that."

Lone Wolf
The latest issue of The New Yorker includes a lengthy profile of Undersecretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, "The Believer," by Peter J. Boyer. Pull quote:

[M]ost puzzling to some, perhaps, is the communion that Wolfowitz seems to have with George W. Bush. How can someone so smart, so knowing, speak -- and even apparently think -- so much like George Bush? Except for their manner of delivery . . . the language used by the two men when discussing Iraq is almost indistinguishable. . . . Alongside Bush himself, Wolfowitz is, even now, among the last of the true believers.

Still Waiting
It's a big book, an important book. But it's not complete. The New York Times reports (Part of 9/11 Report Remains Unreleased; An Inquiry Is Begun," by Jim Dwyer):

One last chapter of the investigation by the Sept. 11 commission, a supplement completed more than two months ago, has not yet been made public by the Justice Department, and officials say it is unlikely to be released before the presidential election, even though that had been a major goal of deadlines set for the panel.

Drawing from this unpublished part of the inquiry, the commission quietly asked the inspectors general at the Departments of Defense and Transportation to review what it had determined were broadly inaccurate accounts provided by several civil and military officials about efforts to track and chase the hijacked aircraft on Sept. 11.

Amazing. The most important inquiry in American history, and it's a work in progress.

Disgraceful. The most important issues of our time, and the Bush administration has to be forced to get the job done.

[* Note: Additional items may be posted to “Political Notes” after initial publication but only on the day of publication, excluding post-publication addenda. Such items, when posted, are designated by an asterisk.]

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