Washington Affairs

17 March 2003


Bush Loses Diplomatic Battles
When war with Iraq arrives, one genuinely hopes that the armed forces of the United States perform better than the diplomats and civilan leadership of America have in the last week. To call it a rout is not overselling the situation. The Bush administration has bumbled and fumbled every opportunity to win its case at the UN and elsewhere, and has failed. That is what happens when the wrong approach is used for the wrong ends. Click here to read more.

FDA Must Regulate Supplements
The results of Steve Belcher's autopsy say that the Oriole pitcher's death was linked to the herb ephedra. The 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) exempts "natural" supplement producers from having to prove that their products are safe or effective, or even pure, the way drug companies have to do. Instead, the FDA, with its scant resources, has the burden of proof to show the substances are bad. This needs to change in nanoseconds, but the new rules before Congress probably won't do it. Click here for more.

Congressman Moran Quits for Anti-Semitic Remark

Virginia Congressman James Moran, a Democrat, was hoist on his own petard this week for claiming the looming war with Iraq could be stopped but that Jewish leaders wanted it. Leaving aside for a moment the age old "blame-the-Jews" mentality it betrays, Mr. Moran's didn't even get the Jewish position right. He has had to resign as regional minority whip (rather a non-job), but he ought to reconsider membership in the US Congress on the grounds, not only of bigotry, but of being downright stupid and ill-informed. Click here to read on.