Send Perle to Baghdad?
The disagreements among Republicans over the Bush administration’s obsession with invading Iraq are becoming a gaping divide. Brent Scowcroft’s Wall Street Journal op-ed, arguing that an invasion in the short term would be a disaster, is getting most of the press, but this quote in this morning’s New York Times lead story jumped out at me for its sheer venom directed at Richard Perle, the hawk who has been ring-leading the “Get Saddam” campaign: “Maybe Mr. Perle would like to be in the first wave of those who go into Baghdad.” That’s not some pinko talking — it’s Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel. [Scott Rosenberg’s Links & Comment]

Lessig asks “What have we done about it?” in re technology patents. Here’s what we can do and are doing. Develop new ideas and don’t patent them. That’s the most any developer can do. How about a conservancy for developers who don’t take patents. Get people intellectual credit for their creations to balance the proprietary credit they are not demanding. Lessig is so damned irritating. He says “We’ve not done anything yet.” Arrrrgh. Incorrect. He’s not done anything yet. Perhaps his friends haven’t done anything yet. Does Dr Lessig understand technology any better than Rep Coble? [Scripting News]

My Observer column about the Berman Bill is on the Web.

The more they hyped, the lounder they whinge
Terriific “NYT” piece exposing the whingeing hypocrisy of a departing telecoms analyst.

“JACK B. GRUBMAN, the former star telecommunications analyst who resigned on Thursday from Salomon Smith Barney, wants your sympathy.

Sure, he made $20 million a year urging investors to buy untested telecom stocks even as they nose-dived. And yes, he is walking away with almost $32 million in cash and stock even after most of the companies he followed are in tatters. Still, Mr. Grubman wants you to know that he, too, is a victim.”

Grubman, for example, advised investors to buy or hold WorldCom stock in the fall of 2000 when shares stood at $25, predicting that the price would hit $87. WorldCom shares closed on Friday at 12 cents. I’m always astonished that people take these analysts seriously.