A Little Humility

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

I want to echo Fallows, and note this rather erroneous act of journalism committed by Jennifer Rubin. In looking at the tragedy in Norway, Rubin notes "a specific jihadist connection," and then goes on to inveigh "against those who think it's too expensive to wage a war against jihadists."

As subsequent events have revealed, Rubin is quite wrong.

Let us immediately preemptively dispense with any cries of false equivalencies and hypocrisy. You can read my stance on the Gabby Giffords shooting and right-wing connections here. You can read Fallows' words here.

As for this case, my golden rule is that as terrible as it is to be wrong, it many times more terrible to pretend that wrong is right. As of this wring, Rubin has issued no correction in any form. That is shameful.

MORE: Also see Steve Clemons for, what looks like, the Atlantic's full court press. I swear we don't plan these things.

This article available online at:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/07/a-little-humility/242402/