TRUTH DIG REPORTS

>> TRUTHDIG ARTS AND CULTURE:

The Truthdig Book Review Edited by Steve Wasserman
"Claire Wasserman on Europe’s Islamic Immigrants" -- Christopher Caldwell explores in his recent book what he terms Islam’s “adversary culture” now challenging Europe’s own sense of historical identity.

>> SPECIAL REPORTS:

Tom Engelhardt on Obama and Afghanistan
"The Afghan Speech Obama Should Give (but Won’t)" -- President Obama will undoubtedly address the American people on whatever decision he makes about the war in Afghanistan. Every sign indicates that it will not sound like this.

California Watch: Crowded Classes Defeat Reform
"Despite Subsidies, Class Sizes Rise in California Schools" -- Most of California’s largest school districts are increasing class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, eroding the most expensive education reform in the state's history.

>> DON'T MISS THE BEST OF OUR SYNDICATED COLUMNISTS:

Joe Conason on the 9/11 Trial and Right-Wing Fear-Mongering
"What Is So Patriotic About Hysteria?" -- The loudest voices on the right never tire of telling us that they are the truest patriots, but when did fear-mongering in a time of war become an act of patriotism?

E.J. Dionne on Health Reform Delays
"GOP Obstruction Goes Unnoticed—and Unpunished" -- Democrats in the Senate may engage in collective suicide, but it’s Republicans who, with Machiavellian brilliance, have brought the country to a halt.

Ellen Goodman on Sarah Palin
"Lipstick on a Rogue" -- You have to hand it to Sarah Palin. I don’t mean you have to hand her the 2012 nomination. Nor do you have to hand her the $24.64 I overpaid for “Going Rogue.”

Ruth Marcus on Abortion and Health Reform
"Three Abortion Coverage Myths" -- Let’s dispense with three fallacies swirling about the question of abortion coverage in health care reform.

William Pfaff on U.S.-China Relations
"Enough G-2 Talk Already" -- I have never understood the widely touted idea or assumption of China-U.S. equality or partnership or joint rule of the world or superpower partnership that has dominated the press coverage of Barack Obama’s trip to Asia.

Eugene Robinson on 9/11 Trials
"Battlefield in the War of Ideas" -- If killing a terrorist in Kandahar creates one in Killeen, we’ll never make progress.

David Sirota on Broder's Moral Betrayal
"Intelligentsia Against Intelligence" -- Any hope that we aren't turning into a full-on slobbering idiocracy was snuffed out last week by two of the Washington intelligentsia’s most respected voices.