I hated Brooke’s insinuation in his column today The Rush to Therapy that there was nothing behind Hasan’s slaughter at Fort Hood but his pre-ordained evil. I wrote Evil — asking the questions.

But in Denying Responsibility for the Wars One Cheers On Glenn Greenwald unleashes a stunning attack on Brooks right from his opening subhead: The NYT columnist who has supported 4 wars on Muslims in 6 years decries the Islamic disregard for human life.

Greenwald was just winding up.

David Brooks’ column today perfectly illustrates what lies at the core of our political discourse: namely, self-loving tribalistic blindness laced with a pathological refusal to accept responsibility for one’s actions.

Brooks himself was a vehement, vicious advocate for the attack on Iraq, which caused this:

The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq has resulted in the deaths of many Iraqi civilians . . . Many international organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations have counted excess civilian casualties using such methods; however all have reported different numbers. Reports range from 128,000 to 1,033,000.

That’s at least 128,000 innocent human beings — at least — whose lives were eradicated by the war Brooks repeatedly cheered on. It also resulted in this: “More than 4 million Iraqis have now been displaced by violence in the country.” But Brooks accuses Islamic fanatics — but not himself — of “causing incredible amounts of suffering.”

Man, did Brooks ever have this coming.

Why do those in favour of war never understand that those assaulted tend not to like it … and they try to get even. Just as you would.

Greenwald is one of my heros.