Triangulation

As Tim notes, Richard Perle is suing Sy Hersh for libel -- in Great Britain. My favorite reaction to this comes from Joshua Micah Marshall: "As long as Perle is getting knocked around -- unfairly, I think -- for alleged dual loyalties, this doesn't exactly seem like a step in the right direction. Does it? I suppose it may be some sort of clever loyalty triangulation strategy, but still…"

Comments

[Anonymous]

I love the line: "Most of the many hours he works each day are pro bono to help the administration with its policy on Iraq". Well, that justifies it then.

Prez: We need someone to help with our Iraq policy.

Vice Prez: I know someone at one of my companies.

Prez: Is he good?

Vice Prez: He's cheap.

Prez: Good enough for government work!

Prez & VP: (laugh together)

[fyodor]

The implication that Perle's actions are justified because he's working pro bono is akin to the arguments often used by the left to bolster folks like Nadar. I learned long ago that there are other motivating factors than money, and just because someone is working hard for a cause without pay doesn't make that person's cause right or his motivations noble.

[Warren]

IMHO the fact that he's not getting paid by the people he's supposedly working for is suspicious. I mean, who is paying him, and for what?

[Bradley]

So let me get this straight: We don't mind going to war without Great Britain, but we'd hate to have to file libel suits without 'em. Good thing no one's put a cap on damages in the U.K.

[dragoon]

So what was that conservative jazz about tort reform?

[Jon H]

Could Hersh just threaten a UK countersuit, based on
Perle calling him a terrorist?