" :::::Lee, thanks for your compromise on ""claim"". I am between you and Armon about the Karsh quote. I don't think it is a ""fact"" it is Karsh's opinion, HOWEVER, Karsh's CV demonstrates that he has the credentials to provide a very credible opinion on this particular topic. In addition, his politics are moderate and this adds more credibility (because he's not Cole's usual target). Also, reviewing Cole's CV and publications certainly confirms Karsh's point (and that of others who made the same point previously). Sure, Cole is a full professor of History, but his area of expertise, although in the big area of ""Middle East"", is not very relevant to the issues he writes about in
" :::::Lee, thanks for your compromise on ""claim"". I am between you and Armon about the Karsh quote. I don't think it is a ""fact"" it is Karsh's opinion, HOWEVER, Karsh's CV demonstrates that he has the credentials to provide a very credible opinion on this particular topic. In addition, his politics are moderate and this adds more credibility (because he's not Cole's usual target). Also, reviewing Cole's CV and publications certainly confirms Karsh's point (and that of others who made the same point previously). Sure, Cole is a full professor of History, but his area of expertise, although in the big area of ""Middle East"", is not very relevant to the issues he writes about in this