"Its like CNN put on a well informed, self absorbed 10th grader to run their show." - Perhaps they're trying to emulate Fox's business model.

Fox's 10th graders arn't well informed though

Zakaria following the Democratic Party line? Jesus when you even think moderates who backed Reagan, pal around with Kissinger, and supported the Iraq war are Democratic Party partisans I don't know what to tell you. Of all the clowns on tv you piss on Zakaria?

As Ive said, Ive only read a couple, and those I did followed a moderate party line, it would not surprise me that he backed Reagan though, and I completely understand how he supported the Iraq war, the guy is a sheep, and there was a large consensus for the war so he probably jumped right aboard and probabl predicted Utopia in about a year.

And yes, I find this clown especially egregious because I think he does, or at least should know better.

*meant to say democratic party line, or at least a stance supportive of Obama's policies.

Well yes, you are right that he's an opportunist. He blows in the direction of whatever the political winds are blowing. He's a clone of Thomas Friedman. But, considering the quality of TV personalities that talk about politics these days, he's head and shoulders better than the average.

Which is the real tragedy.

But on an earlier note, are you going to make the assertion that there other reasons we are as involved in the Middle East aside from oil (and Israel, but the only difference is that if there was no oil, we REALLY wouldn't give a fuck about Arab opinion)?

I doubt if you can sustain that assertion, because there is very little else in that area that would really engage US interests other than oil resources and keeping the pro-Israeli lobby happy.

And if you say something about bringing democracy, I'm going have to ask for you to wake up and smell the realpolitik.

I think beyond oil is the need to have a symbolic enemy cause, since "Commies" aren't really worthy of being the "bad guy" anymore. Now it's "Islamic extremist terrorists." And the best way to make them become a threat is to just muck around in there as much as possible.

Iraq has been a corporate bonanza. Immediately upon occupation, the Americans cut Iraq's corporate tax rate from 40 to 15%, privatized all of its non-oil state owned enterprises (more than 200 enterprises), they allowed investors to own 100% of non-oil assets in Iraq and move that wealth out of the country without being taxed - they were not required to invest it in Iraq (this is exactly what Yeltsin did when he pilfered Russia), and they allowed foreign banks and foreign companies to sign leases and contracts lasting 40 years. Finally, they ripped off Iraqi oil money by turning the Oil for Food program into the Iraq Development Fund, which was under direct control of the occupation authorities, who then proceeded to contract out work to the Halliburtons of the world at inflated prices.

http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/images/stories/documents/20040623134743-95668.pdf

To say this war wasn't about corporate profits, not least of which is oil, is pure fantasy. Read the Iraq Study Group report, the two leaders of that group - Baker & Eagleburger, are covered in oil. Their recommendation? Privatize Iraq's oil wealth.
Baker not coincidentally was one of the masterminds behind the first war in Iraq, which was absolutely all about oil. The whole reason there was an Iraq-Kuwait crisis to begin with was because the US encouraged Kuwait to keep oil prices low and refuse to negotiate with Iraq over oil production when Iraq was heavily in debt due to the Iran war.

Fareed Zakaria is head and shoulders above ANY other personality on American television. His show is NOT a news show, its a geopolitical analysis show. He is also not a Democrat (or a Republican)... he is a Realist and cares first and foremost about geopolitical issues (and American domestic politics insofar as it informs American geopolitical posture).

But really... of ALL the blowhards and crap television personalities, you pick on HIM????

he is the only news show worth watching every week, and aside from Daily Show and Colbert Report, the only show I never miss (well, thanks to DVR).

but yes, American journalism is at a nadir... though it could be argued that outside of a very short period in the 60s and 70s, it was never much to crow about. period.


fact is, only a really small percentage of people in the U.S. really NEED to know what is really going on, the rest of the population really could care less, and don't really need to know. the system is based on the vast vast vast majority just consuming and shutting the fuck up. and it has worked quite well for the guys (and most are men) who own.... errr, I mean run the country ;)

"But on an earlier note, are you going to make the assertion that there other reasons we are as involved in the Middle East aside from oil"

No but, I don't think we need the cutting analysis that the United States is in the Middle East partially for oil. I believe that is quite established. If you want to say we are in Iraq for oil, thats an argument. If you say "I believe we are in the Middled east partially because of oil. Really? No shit shirlock.

AndI think my problem with Zakaria is that we are supposed to be getting cutting edge analysis with this guy, and hes coming out an saying "The sky is blue" and using that to predict "I think the sky is going to be blue overnight as well"

and also note i brought this up notbecause i hate him the most, but because i feel out of all the people i hate on news tv, he was the one I felt weirdest about

"Really? No shit shirlock."

There are plenty of people who deny this, especially his associates.

Who deny that we are in the Middle East (not Iraq) partially because of oil?

People who say we back Israel who has no oil and oppose Iran who has plenty of it.