The Anonymous Economist sends me Paul Krugman's opinion piece in the New York Times today. Krugman meets expectations: he makes some valid points about American incompetence and corruption in Iraq's reconstruction; then he blows it with his conclusion:

“Let's say the obvious. By making Iraq a playground for right-wing economic theorists, an employment agency for friends and family, and a source of lucrative contracts for corporate donors, the administration did terrorist recruiters a very big favor.”

And Osama melted two Manhattan skyscrapers because Bush failed to sign up to the Kyoto agreement.

I can see it now. A young hot-head is led into a hideout of the leader of the terrorist group Actuarial Jihad. His blindfold is ripped off and the new recruit is challenged to explain himself:

“I heard today in the mosque that those Yankee bastards have stitched up the radio bandwidth auction! I knew then it was my destiny to destroy their Humvees with a roadside explosives and behead the infidels who drive them. Only when the crusaders' dog lackeys are crushed can we secure the transparent audit that God has willed!”

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