THE BRITISH ON BUSH. Between the continuing search for WMDs and the Plame game, the Bush Administration has taken quite a beating from the media this week. Here is what the Economist has to say.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING FRANCE. Their global position has faltered, and they now seem to delight in being a thorn in the United States' side. But what is really bothering the French? This article from the International Herald Tribune has some interesting insights.

AND YOU THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY STRANGER...well, it has. The California recall is set for Tuesday, and it's a circus to the end. This week, Schwarzenegger has dealt with accusations of groping and now he's being painted as a Nazi sympathizer. What's next?

THE NEED FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM. In this op-ed from today's Washington Post, Marcela Sanchez echoes many of the sentiments that Victor Davis Hanson shared on this program in September and persuasively argues for immediate small-scale reforms.

COETZEE RECEIVES THE TOP PRIZE. Here is an article from last year's New Yorker, in which John Updike evaluates the work of J.M. Coetzee. Yesterday, the Nobel Foundation named Coetzee as this year's winner of the literature prize. Currently, you can find the South African author right here in Chicago; he serves as a visiting professor at the University of Chicago.

THE AGONY AND THE ESSAYIST. This fascinating article from Butterflies and Wheels attempts to elevate the essay from its current position as a second-class literary citizen and give it the recognition it deserves.

HYPOTHETICALLY, WHAT IF HYPOTHETICALS DIDN'T EXIST? You can always count on Slate to examine the nuances of political and cultural life. Here, Michael Kinsley examines the recent trend among politicians to ignore the hypothetical. But where would we be without the hypothetical and the counterfactual? As our old friend Don Kagan says, "Counterfactual history is the only kind of history."

MUSSORGSKY'S NIGHTMARISH VISION. "Night on Bald Mountain" is probably best known for its inclusion in Walt Disney's Fantasia. But its vivid musical characterization of demons at play haunts the recesses of the brain for days.
http://classicalplus.gmn.com/

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TERRORISM, THE MIDDLE EAST AND ISRAEL. As viewed by the first rate scholars at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University. This long--but very revealing and readable-- report has just been issued today.

IS THE "WILSON SCANDAL" REALLY A SCANDAL? Our friend, and rather frequent program guest, Max Boot of the New York Council on Foreign Relations, weighs in on the hot story of the week.

OPENING THE BLOGOSPHERE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. He won't get to be president but Howard Dean will go down in IT history as the man who blogged-up American politics. This informative report from the frontier of campaign innovation was published by the Village Voice.

CONTRA-SUNSTEIN. Someone has got to do it--and Ben Wittes of the Washington Post has done it well! In this article from the Weekly Standard the new book by the Congressional Democrat's favorite law professor gets a proper close and critical analysis.

WOMEN'S "RIGHTS" IN THE ASIAN COMMUNITIES OF ENGLAND. This report from today's London Telegraph suggests that in England, as in some parts of the United States, (see our recent program with Victor Davis Hanson) cultural assimilation is notable more in its absence than in its occurence.

SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE DARK MATTER OF THE UNIVERSE. This is exciting news for anyone who continues to wonder about the ultimate nature of things. And--mirabile dictu!--one experiences the illusion of comprehension when reading this report from the newest edition of New Scientist.

WHO ARE THE PAPABILI? (i.e. the cardinals who will be candidates for the papacy.) The question arises, of course, because of the declining health of John Paul II and the recent appointment of a large number of new cardinals. This story from the Economist is valuably informative.

WHERE ARE THE BONES OF SAINT PETER? In this fine article from the current issue of the Atlantic we go on an annotated tour of the necropolis below the great Vatican Basilica and find early church history illuminated in the strange half light.

A REPORT FROM THE BOVINE STATE! So Wisconsin--or, at least its governor--is proud of cows, cheese and corn and wants those on its memorial quarter. Why not? But shouldn't they also add their distinctive bratwurst?

A GREAT JAZZMAN. Benny Carter had a long career and was a master of small ensemble jazz as it matured during the 30s and 40s. Here, from the Smithsonian Institution, is a collection of five fine sides.

THE ENTIRE EXTENSION 720 WITH MILT ROSENBERG WEBSITE CAN BE ACCESSED HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO EXTENSION 720, STREAMING AUDIO IS AVAILABLE HERE. THE SHOW RUNS FROM 9 TO 11 P.M. CENTRAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

WHO SENT AMBASSADOR WILSON TO NIGER? WHO DISCLOSED HIS WIFE'S EMPLOYMENT? DOES IT MATTER? AND, IF SO, WHY? Everybody is asking these questions today--but nobody seems to have noted the the facts revealed in this column from last Monday's National Review.

DON'T (OR IS IT "DO?") FENCE ME IN. Arafat may be providing the Israelis with just the cover they need as they go forward with the Big Fence. Here's the analysis put forward by Safire in today's New York Times.

A CURIOUS OP-ED FROM THE EDITOR OF THE JERUSALEM POST. The Wall Street Journal, for whom he used to work, reprinted this piece by Bret Stephens today. It will probably make some readers angry and elicit table-thumbing agreement from others--and puzzled confusion from the rest.

A CANDIDATE WHO DARES TO GO WHERE NO CAMPAIGNER HAS GONE BEFORE. General Clark has moved fast--but has not yet exceeded the speed of light. He is, though, aware of that limitation and does not feel that he (or we?) must be forever bound by it. The coverage of his interesting venture into physical theory is from Wired magazine.

MUSHARRAF, VAJPAYEE AND THE AMERICAN PRESS: THE VIEW FROM DELHI. The editors at the Times of India assure their readers that, despite the cameras focussed on the Pakistani leader, India gets better press in the U.S. because, of course, it is a better country!

POLITICS IN THE COLLEGE CLASSROOM? And, if so, whose politics? David Horowitz, a sometime guest on our program, is conducting a one-man blitz for what he calls the "Academic Bill of Rights." Here's the latest account of his adventures on the road.

EXPLAINING LEO STRAUSS. Since some blame "neo-conservatism" on him, two leading neos here take on the task of clarifying what Strauss said and why it matters. The article is from the new issue of The Public Interest.

GETTING SOME HELP WHEN VIEWING PICASSO'S CUBISTIC NUDES. "Dummies" need help not only with car repair but with Shakespeare (now available!), "modern art" and cacophonous music. The case is well argued by John Weeks in this article from the L.A. News.

A GREAT FLAMENCO MASTER. Camaron de la Isla was one of the leading performers of traditional Spanish Gypsy music. Here he can be heard in two different classical modes (bulerias and tanquillos) and in one more contemporary arrangement.

THE ENTIRE EXTENSION 720 WITH MILT ROSENBERG WEBSITE CAN BE ACCESSED HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO EXTENSION 720, STREAMING AUDIO IS AVAILABLE HERE. THE SHOW RUNS FROM 9 TO 11 P.M. CENTRAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

WHAT IF WE CONDUCTED A REAL WAR ON TERROR? John Derbyshire asks that question--and comes up with some startling, projective answers--in this column from the current National Review.

FORTY SEVEN YEARS LATER THE SUEZ CRISIS IS UNRAVELLED. History often works slowly--many of the hidden facts do not surface till half a century later. And so it is apparently with the the Suez Crisis of 1956 in which Britain, France and Israel took action against Egypt. This review is from the scholarly site, H-Net Reviews.

LAY OFF MCDUFF! Our friend and frequent program-guest, John Kass, tells it like it is--and has too long been--in this column from yesterday's Chicago Tribune.

A REVIEW THAT WILL LIVE IN THE ANNALS OF DEROGATION. No writer ever suffered a worse flaying than did Edmund Gosse at the hands of John Churton Collins. This great literary scandal is now vividly detailed in the current issue of the New Yorker.

THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE THERE--THOSE YANKEES SEARCH THEM EVERWHERE...but, just like the Scarlet Pimpernel, Osama and Saddam remain elusive. Why? And what is being done about it? This troubling but informative article is from the current issue of Insight magazine.

POLISPEAK. It's a variant of English in which the "intensifier" plays a crucial--but redundant--role. Andy Ferguson, a former guest on Extension 720, illustrates this language in operation at the last (Democratic) candidates debate.

THE CHINESE SPACE PROGRAM:UP AND AWAY! They are working diligently and effectively and will, in all likelihood, soon challenge the achievements of both NASA and the Cosmonaut program. This report from Scientific American is quite impressively detailed.

ARE THEY DOING THIS TO YOUR KIDS? The so called "whole language" approach to teaching reading leaves many kids confused, anxious and sometimes illiterate. But many "educationists" continue to push it. This longish--but very readable--report from the Fordham Foundation is something you must peruse if you take your parental responsibility seriously.

DIE FORELLE (THE TROUT) QUINTET. Franz Schubert composed this wonderfully fluent chamber work when he was just 22 years old, but already known as the "genius of the cafes." It is played with great grace by instrumentalists at the Mainly Mozart Festival.

THE ENTIRE EXTENSION 720 WITH MILT ROSENBERG WEBSITE CAN BE ACCESSED HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO EXTENSION 720, STREAMING AUDIO IS AVAILABLE HERE. THE SHOW RUNS FROM 9 TO 11 P.M. CENTRAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THE INDEFATIGUABLE DICK MORRIS PLOTS THE BUSH CAMPAIGN. This appeared today in Front Page. We offer it without commentary for your amusement, edification, consternation or...whatever!

WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE JIHADIS? Dan Pipes maintains a close and sophisticated scrutiny of militant Islamic penetration of American institutions. This column, from today's New York Post, contains the usual amount of disturbing (but actionable!) information.

THE DANGER OF PREMATURE DEMOCRATIZATION. Fareed Zakaria worries about "democracy" turning into tyranny if it is too quickly established. He discussed that thesis in his recent book and with us on the program a few months ago. In this article from the current issue of Newsweek he extends that concern to the question of when and how to turn local authority over to Iraqi notables.

KRAUTHAMMER TAKES ON KENNEDY....in defense of Bush. With his customary clarity and concison, the Washington Post columnist examines the rather blunderbussy assault by the senior senator from Hyannisport.

COPS AND CRIME IN L.A. George Will looks in on William Bratton, former police commissioner in New York and now running the L.A. Department. And he offers up a bit of "crime control" economics.

THE MUFFLED CONSERVATIVE VOICE ON CAMPUS. We think that David Brooks (a former student at the University where the proprietor has spent most of his academic career) is sharply accurate in his characterization of the left-tilted culture of the contemporary academy. The column is from his new perch at the New York Times.

FIRE TAKES CAL POLY TO COURT. An outstanding instance of the violation of a student's right to free speech is at issue in the latest case brought by The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Here is the account published Friday in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Some useful links are provided.

FRED AND HIS SISTER. Nietzsche may or may not have been a coherent philosopher--but his sister saw to it that her long dead brother's work would be reinterpreted as an intellectual bulwark of Nazism. A book about the dreadful creature has recently been published and here, from the London Review of Books, is a fine essay/review.

THIS IS HOW GREAT SCHOLARS LIVE ON...in the hearts and the work of their student-disciples. This memorial of S.D. Goiten, just published in the New Criterion, reveals an admirable and crucially influential figure who helped to shape western understanding of the history and culture of Islam.

A LAKISHA BY SOME OTHER NAME MIGHT BE MORE EMPLOYABLE! Onamastics is the "science of names." But onamasticians have done little with the influence of names upon the distribution of social rewards. Some economists have got onto that question recently--and the results may change the naming proclivities of many parents.

KING OLIVER'S LAST STAND. He was one of the fathers of jazz--and in 1929-30 he led his last band. Here is a generous supply of their recordings. Noteworthy is their treatment of West End Blues, with a lesser trumpet player duplicating the classic Louis Armstrong performance of the same.

THE ENTIRE EXTENSION 720 WITH MILT ROSENBERG WEBSITE CAN BE ACCESSED HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO EXTENSION 720, STREAMING AUDIO IS AVAILABLE HERE. THE SHOW RUNS FROM 9 TO 11 P.M. CENTRAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.