Christopher Hitchens and His Critics : Terror, Iraq, and the Left

by Cushman, Thomas

• ISBN13: 9780814716861
• ISBN10: 0814716865
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: New York Univ Pr

Summary

--Nick Cohen, columnist, The Observer ?Cottee and Cushman have produced not only a priceless collection of Christopher Hitchens's key writings over the past few years; they have also documented wonderfully the most essential characteristics of the post-9/11 Anglo-American left. Christopher Hitchens and His Critics is must reading for anybody interested in the big topics befalling our lives.? --Andrei S. Markovits, University of Michigan Christopher Hitchens--political journalist, cultural critic, public intellectual and self-described ?contrarian?--is one of the most controversial and prolific writers of his generation. His most recent book, God is Not Great, was on the New York Times bestseller list in 2007 for months. Like his hero, George Orwell, Hitchens is a tireless opponent of all forms of cruelty, ideological dogma, religious superstition and intellectual foible. Once a socialist, he now refers to himself as an ?unaffiliated radical.? As a thinker, Hitchens is perhaps best viewed as ?post-ideological,? in that his intellectual sources and solidarities are strikingly various (he is an admirer of both Leon Trotsky and Kingsley Amis) and cannot be located easily at any one point on the ideological spectrum. Since leaving Britain for the United States in 1981, Hitchens?s thinking has moved in what some see as contradictory directions, but he remains an unapologetic and passionate defender of the Enlightenment values of secularism, democracy, free expression, and scientific inquiry. The global turmoil of the recent past has provoked intense dispute and division among intellectuals, academics, and other commentators. Hitchens?s writing during this time, particularly after 9/11, is an essential reference point for understanding the genesis and meaning of that turmoil--and the challenges that accompany it. This volume brings together Hitchens?s most incisive reflections on the ?war on terror,? the war in Iraq, and the state of the contemporary Left. It also includes a selection of critical commentaries on his work from his former leftist comrades, a set of exchanges between Hitchens and various left-leaning interlocutors (such as Noam Chomsky, Studs Terkel, and Katha Pollitt), and an introductory essay by the editors on the nature and significance of Hitchens?s contribution to the world of ideas and public debate. In response, Hitchens provides an original afterword, written for this collection. Whatever readers might think about Hitchens, he remains an intellectual force to be reckoned with. And there is no better place to encounter his current thinking than in this provocative volume.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction: Terror, Iraq, and the Left	p. 1
Hitchens on Terror
American Society Can Outlast or Absorb Practically Anything: Independent, September 16, 2001	p. 39
The Pursuit of Happiness Is at an End: London Evening Standard, September 19, 2001	p. 42
Against Rationalization: Nation, September 20, 2001	p. 44
Of Sin, the Left, and Islamic Fascism: Nation (Online), October 8, 2001	p. 47
Ha Ha Ha to the Pacifists: Guardian, November 14, 2001	p. 52
Stranger in a Strange Land: Atlantic Monthly, December 2001	p. 54
Saving Islam from bin Laden: The Age, September 5, 2002	p. 59
It's a Good Time for War: Boston Globe (Online), September 8, 2002	p. 62
Inside the Islamic Mafia: Slate, September 25, 2003	p. 70
Al Qaeda's Latest Target: Slate, November 18, 2003	p. 73
To Die in Madrid: Slate, March 15, 2004	p. 77
Murder by Any Other Name: Slate, September 7, 2004	p. 79
Bush's Secularist Triumph: Slate, November 9, 2004	p. 82
Jihad in the Netherlands: Free Inquiry, February/March 2005	p. 85
We Cannot Surrender: Mirror, July 8, 2005	p. 87
Yes, London Can Take It: Weekly Standard, July 18, 2005	p. 90
Why Ask Why?: Slate, October 3, 2005	p. 93
Hitchens on Iraq
Appointment in Samarra?: Nation, September 30, 2002	p. 99
Taking Sides: Nation, October 14, 2002	p. 101
So Long, Fellow Travelers: Washington Post, October 20, 2002	p. 104
I Wanted It to Rain on Their Parade: Mirror, February 18, 2003	p. 108
Weapons and Terror: Slate, May 20, 2003	p. 112
Restating the Case for War: Slate, November 5, 2003	p. 114
The Literal Left: Slate, December 4, 2003	p. 120
Guerrillas in the Mist: Slate, January 2, 2004	p. 122
Fallujah: Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2004	p. 125
Vietnam?: Slate, April 12, 2004	p. 128
Second Thinking: Slate, April 19, 2004	p. 131
Abu Ghraib Isn't Guernica: Slate, May 9, 2005	p. 134
History and Mystery: Slate, May 16, 2005	p. 137
Unmitigated Galloway: Weekly Standard, May 30, 2005	p. 140
Losing the Iraq War: Slate, August 8, 2005	p. 150
A War to Be Proud Of: Weekly Standard, September 5, 2005	p. 152
Anti-War, My Foot: Slate, September 26, 2005	p. 160
Hitchens on the Left
An Interview with Christopher Hitchens, Part I: Radicalism, Liberty, and the Post-Socialist World: Reason Online, November 2001	p. 167
Don't. Be. Silly. An Open Letter to Martin Amis: Guardian, September 4, 2002	p. 177
Europe's Status Quo Left: A Review of Language, Politics, and Writing: Stolentelling in Western Europe by Patrick McCarthy: Foreign Policy, July/August 2003	p. 184
Left-Leaving, Left-Leaning: A Review of Left Illusions by David Horowitz and Not Without Love by Constance Webb: Los Angeles Times, November 16, 2003	p. 189
Polymath with a Cause: A Review of From Oslo to Iraq and the Road Map by Edward W. Said: Washington Post, August 15, 2004	p. 193
Susan Sontag: An Obituary: Slate, December 29, 2004	p. 197
An Interview with Christopher Hitchens, Part II: Anti-Fascism, Reactionary Conservatism, and the Post-September 11 World: Frontpage, December 10, 2003	p. 201
Critical Responses and Exchanges
Letter to the Nation, October 1, 2001: Noam Chomsky, Nation (Online), October 1, 2001	p. 221
Hitchens Responds: Nation (Online), October 4, 2001	p. 222
Letter to the Nation, January 10, 2002: Edward S. Herman, Nation (Online), January 10, 2002	p. 228
Hitchens Responds: Nation (Online), January 10, 2002	p. 229
Christopher Hitchens: The Dishonorable Policeman of the Left: Scott Lucas, New Statesman, May 27, 2002	p. 230
Letter to the Nation, January 6, 2003: Studs Terkel, Nation, January 6, 2003	p. 237
Hitchens Responds: Christopher Hitchens Web, 2003	p. 238
Hitchens as Model Apostate: Norman Finkelstein, Counter Punch, September 10, 2003	p. 242
Hitchens Responds: Christopher Hitchens Web, 2004	p. 250
Obituary for a Former Contrarian: Dennis Perrin, Minneapolis City Pages, July 9, 2003	p. 257
Farewell Hitch: George Scialabba, Evatt Foundation News Letter, April/May 2005	p. 264
The Passion of Christopher Hitchens: A Review of Love, Poverty, and War by Christopher Hitchens: Michael Kazin, Dissent, Summer 2005	p. 273
Christopher Hitchens: Flickering Firebrand: Gary Malone, Arena Journal, July 7, 2005	p. 279
Christopher Hitchens's Last Battle: Juan Cole, Salon, September 5, 2005	p. 302
The Genocidal Imagination of Christopher Hitchens: Richard Seymour, Monthly Review, November 26, 2005	p. 312
Afterword	p. 331
About the Contributors	p. 343
Index	p. 347
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