DAN PIPES ON THE NEED FOR AN IRAQI GOVERNMENT: Since the American public probably won't support a long-range American military operation, here is the feasible alternative--according to Dan Pipes in yesterday's Jerusalem Post.

RADICAL LEFTISM AND ANTI-SEMITISM: The people at Front Page magazine ran this valuable symposium about a month ago. It casts an exposing light on the anti-Israelism (and evermore undisguised anti-semitism) of the international left.Two of the participants, Stern and Chesler, have recently appeared on Extension 720.

THE GHETTO GAME AND THE GHETTO REALITY: Violence, celebrated and intensified by "Hip-Hop," is the unendurable reality in inner city life. And that, says Bob Herbert, in today's N.Y. Times, is the far deeper offense than the offensive new Ghettopoly game.

ANGLICANISM: THE AFRICAN PRESENCE. Phillip Jenkins, in this important article from the new issue of The Atlantic, focuses on one of the main leaders of African Anglicanism---thereby providing a vivid briefing on the background to the conflict that has boiled over at the current world convocation of the "other Catholic church."

A GOOD BLOG! We will occasionally call your attention to some interesting locations in the vast blogosphere. Here is one that specializes in what's gone wrong in academic life--and manages to be funny rather than depressed.

HOW HITLER, GERTRUDE STEIN AND LADY OTTOLINE MORRELL ENTERTAINED: This amusing review of what sounds like an even more amusing book has just appeared in the N.Y. Observer.

MY SHRINK SAYS I NEED MORE SELF-ESTEEM! No you don't, says Frank Furedi, the author of the new book, Therapy Culture: Cultivating Vulnerability in An Uncertain Age. From this review in Spiked we think Furedi is on to something--in fact almost everything when it comes to the bill of goods sold to us by the psychologues.

KRAUTHAMMER ON BASEBALL? This is a rare turn for one of the great political columnists. But he does manage to turn the end-season frenzy, drama and tragic-comedy into a poltical-philosophical reflection. Not to be missed!

EARLY ELLINGTON: These great recordings from 1926-27 already show the distinctive style that distinguished the Ellington bands for close to fifty years. And Bubber Miley on trumpet is outstanding!

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 TO DO ABOUT ARAFAT? Joel Sprayregen, in this op-ed from the Chicago Sun-Times, thinks that the case of Saddam offers a suggestive precedent.

WHAT NEXT IN RIYADH? Because they are in big trouble economically and with an ever more restive population, the Princes of the House of Saud may try a little "democracy" at the local level. The consequences, says Kenneth Pollack, (a former guest on Extension720) in this op-ed from today's N.Y. Times, may be far greater than the rulers presently contemplate.

THE ROAD TO PROSPERITY---FOR IRAQ: Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute has some sensible advice for the emerging government who, as he sees it, have already made some wise economic choices.

WHEN WALESA, HAVEL AND GONCZ SPEAK, WILL CASTRO HEAR THEM? These three former presidents who helped lead their countries out from under Stalinist repression have now condemned the repressive tyranny of Fidel. This report, from today's London Telegraph, suggests that sooner or later (one hopes, sooner) something has got to give.

LA FRANCE QUI TOMBE: That's the title (France is Falling!) of one best sellers in Paris these days. Many other such works bespeak a turn against the arrogance that French governments have brought to bear upon lesser nations. Remember that it was DeGaulle who proclaimed that France had "un mission civilatrice." According to this report from today's London Observer many of the French non-governmental elite want to deflate the prevailing delusions of grandeur.

MEANWHILE, BACK AMONG OUR FRIENDS IN GERMANY: If the French are beginning to see through their delusions of grandeur, the Germans, apparently, are cultivating delusions of persecution. This disturbing report comes from one of our best journalistic observers, Anne Applebaum of the Washington Post.

ONE MAN'S MOORE IS ANOTHER MAN'S BOOR: We thought this "review" of Michael Moore's best-selling diatribe provided a useful corrective. And so we provide the same to you.

THE HUMAN FLOOD FROM THE SOUTH: We discussed Victor davis Hanson's new book, Mexifornia, with him a few weeks ago. Here is the audio archive. And here is an appreciative review of that book by William Rusher.

WELL, ITS NOT INDIANAPOLIS! What seems to be a sharply observed new history of the city of Seattle has just appeared. If this extended excerpt from January magazine is representative of the whole--one might want to read the book or, more actively, move to Bellingham and visit the big city three or four times a year.

ARE THE THINGS (AND SERVICES) WE BUY GETTING BETTER? Virginia Postrel, who visited with us recently at Extension 720, asserts a strongly positive answer in her new book. Francis Morrone begs to differ in this entertaining--and worrisome--essay/review recently published in the N.Y. Sun.

MOZART'S 39TH: A fine reading of this masterwork among Mozart's symphonies! The performance is by the English Chamber Orchestra as conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.

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 MUSLIMS ARE TODAY'S JEWS! That, if you can follow the argument, is the contention in today's lead editorial from Arab News, the major English-language newspaper of Saudi Arabia.

THE ANGLICAN CRISIS, CONT'D. George Will has been attentive to the details--and he puts them together in this column, published yesterday, that does not quite disguise his preferences.

KICKING A GUY WHEN HE'S DOWN. Whatever you think of the political commentary of Rush Limbaugh, Brent Bozell has, we think, a legitimate criticism of the people who are piling on the amused (but not amusing) scorn.

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES REFLECT ON BILL CLINTON. This curious piece appeared yesterday in the National Review. Lowry has been talking to former Clinton associates and they are reflecting back memories of a distracted and intrinsically weak president.

THE ULTIMATE DIVERSITY PROGRAM...as conceived by a Harvard professor, seems to be to redistribute income until we are ALL equally unrich! This item from the Discriminations blog is worth pondering. Incidentally the father and son team who do that blog are not relatives of mine (but surely are of one another).

THE STUDENTS ARE THE LAST TO KNOW. In this case that their professor has been convicted of a sexual molestation felony and sent to prison. This curious case at the University of Wisconsin/ Milwaukee was reported in the local paper a few days ago.

LONG, LONG BEFORE THE ROMANS. Who lived in the British Isles in neolithic and preneolithic times? And how did they live? An exciting new foray into pre-history has recently appeared--and here is the compellingly interesting review from the current issue of the Times Literary Supplement.

IT'S NOT ALL RELATIVE, IN FACT, IT'S NOT AT ALL RELATIVE! Despite the deconstructionists and the "perspectivists," science, says Ophelia Benson, illuminates what is "really the case." This splendid essay is from the important philosophical web-journal Butterflies and Wheels.

A BOOK THAT CAN NEVER BE COMPLETED! That's any dictionary but particularly the Oxford English Dictionary, which presumes to keep up with the ever-changing and vast English language. Here's Buckley's review of Simon Winchester's new book about the OED. Winchester will be with us on the program on October 31st.

LOOKING AT ORWELL AS WRITER. What, exactly, was he up to? How did it connect to his life history? Why has he remained so popular and important so many years after his death? Jeffrey Meyers, one of his biographers (and a former guest on Extension 720) takes on these and related questions in this informative piece from the current New Criterion.

FIVE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES (COUNT THEM, FIVE!) OF SCHUMANN'S FANTASIESTUCKE. And all of them done with musicianly elegance. But note how the choice of the solo instrument makes all the difference.

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 MARONITES OF ISRAEL ARE TARGETED BY THE JIHADISTS. So contends Walid Phares in this article from the Jerusalem Post. The "Arabs" who owned (and were killed in) the Haifa restaurant were, it appears, Maronite Christian refugees from Lebanon.

THE RESTORATION OF THE WATERS AT ZAYAD...and throughout the region of the Marsh Arabs of southern Iraq. This heartening story is from yesterday's Washington Post.

THE RECYCLING OF THE NOTORIOUS. We think that John Leo is onto something with this column. Who's next for redemptive elevation?

THE FALL OF ALLENDE: A CIA ACCOUNT OF THE CHILEAN COUP D'ETAT. This article was published recently in the CIA Journal, Studies in Intelligence. It admits original interest in seeing Allende unseated but gives the CIA a pass on complicity in the armed revolt. Do you buy it?

COPPING THE PSYCHIATRIC PLEA. That's what we have taught criminals to do whenever feasible. But Theodore Dalrymple, prison psychiatrist (and former guest on Extension 720) won't let them (or the rest of us) get away with it. This fascinating interview with Dalrymple is from the Australian magazine, Policy.

ARE WE FROM AFRICA OR FROM EVERYWHERE? The location of the origin of homo sapiens still engages the adversarial interests of paleoanthropologists. But, apparently, the African-originsts are winning. This fine review of the evidence is from the current issue of American Scientist.

FAT CITY, FAT COUNTRY. The news on the adiposity front gets worse and worse. Here's a summary of a newly released study. The full account is in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This summary is from the website of WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities.

HOW NOT TO WRITE. We're not quite sure who Pat Holt is but we find her (or his?) list of the most common mistakes made by writers to be amusing and accurately on target.

THE BIRTH OF POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY. George Eastman did not invent photography but he made it feasible for anyone and everyone. Here's how he did it and here's what the digital people can learn from him. This fine, historical article is from the new issue of American Heritage magazine.

GREAT SWING MUSIC FROM WWII. Our favorites include Peggy Lee (Why Don't You Do Right?) and Major Glenn Miller's St. Louis Blues March.

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.

FAREED ZAKARIA ON THE IRAQ WAR. The editor of the international edition of Newsweek (who appeared on Extension 720 a few months ago) still favors the war. In this column from the latest issue he tells why.

A COMING ANGLICAN SCHISM? Christian history is rich in intra-denominational struggle--often leading to historic splits. The first effective Protestant denomination was, of course, founded by the excommunicated Catholic priest, Martin Luther. Is something similar about to happen within the Anglican communion? Here's the latest update from yesterday's New York Times.

ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY. According to this just-returned "expert," Baghdad can readily move toward "Islamic Democracy" and is ready to do so.This interview with Noah Feldman of the New York University Law School was posted just a few days ago by PBS.

WHO GETS THE PRIZES? WHY? AND HOW? With the Nobels for 2003 just awarded, this article from the Baltimore Sun examines how the system really functions--or dysfunctions, as the case may well be.

VACLAV HAVEL ON THE INCARCERATION OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI. This moving and--as things go these days--inspiring article by the former President of the Czech Republic appeared yesterday in the Washington Post.

HOW TO BUILD A SUPERCOMPUTER AT 1/20TH OF THE COST! Just link 1100 Apples together, spend about 5 million and, as this story from the BBC explains, you will be in the big leagues.

A FREQUENT GUEST GETS OUT OF PRISON. It has been a few years since Lord Jeffrey Archer has been on our program. A notable and recently released convict, he is now giving speeches about prison reform (see this story from the U.K. Guardian) and undoubtedly writing a novel based upon his misadventures.

THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF SERGE PROKOFIEV. This fine appreciative essay by Terry Teachout is from the new issue of Commentary magazine. It deals with the strange matter of Prokofiev's return to Stalin's Russia but, most important, it clarifies the high accomplishment of his music.

AND MORE PROKOFIEV! We featured the Third Piano Concerto last time. Now here is the Fourth--which you will appreciate all the more having read the Teachout essay.