Let me begin by saying I have long been a fan of historian Niall Ferguson. Here is the sort of analysis that leads me to view him as such a gem, pulled from his critique of Nobel Literature Laureate Harold Pinter's recent anti-American screed.

Nobody pretends that the United States came through the Cold War with clean hands. But to pretend that its crimes were equivalent to those of its Communist opponents - and that they have been wilfully hushed up - is fatally to blur the distinction between truth and falsehood. That may be permissible on stage. I am afraid it is quite routine in diplomacy. But is unacceptable in serious historical discussion.

So stick to plays, Harold, and stop torturing history. Even if there was a Nobel Prize for it, you wouldn't stand a chance. Because in my profession, unlike yours - and unlike Condi's, too - there really are "hard distinctionsÂ… between what is true and what is false".

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

Posted by: Greg at 04:10 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 185 words, total size 1 kb.