Commentary Update for September 23, 2002: Rylance, Iraq, New Praetorian Guard, A Second Opinion, Earth Charter

Dear Friends of Commentary:

Dan Rylance joins us this week for some analysis of the September 10 primaries and some handicapping of the November races locally, state wide, and nationally. We also talk a little about the race to war in Iraq.

On Iraq, the Washington Post has an excellent primer that identifies some of the key issues at work in Washington. My friend Norman Solomon was just in Baghdad, and as he notes in this piece, the chances for avoiding war do not look very good at the moment.

• Meanwhile the White House has recently announced a new National Security Strategy based on making the "pre-emptive strike" the basis of American foreign policy. I read the strategy document, and to me it sounded like a new millenium version of the old Roman Praetorian Guard. I was able to obtain this exclusive photo of Dubyaus the Younger, Dickus Cheneyus, Colinus the Powellonian, and Rumsfeldian the Cold Warrior announcing the strategy. The Secret Service dressed for the occasion too.

UW Oshkosh Education Professor John Lemberger is now producing an alternative newspaper called "A Second Opinion." He places hard copies all over town and has given me the green light to place a copy on line. Here it is. Responses can be sent directly to Lemberger at jlemberg@uwosh.edu.

Finally, if you are near the UW Oshkosh campus this week, please do support the Earth Charter Community Summit events!

Best,