Broder Wrestles with Ethnocentrism, Racism

David Broder used to be a thoughtful journalist. So I wonder about these two statements from his column, “Nativist sentiment helped kill the Dubai ports deal,” (Washington Post, 3.9.06):

[Bush’s national security] reputation . . . has been damaged by the continuing strife in Iraq, a nation which — according to this week's Washington Post-ABC News Poll — 80 percent of Americans now believe is headed for civil war.

Mr. Broder, what difference can it make what Americans, even 80 percent of them, think about the prospects for civil war in Iraq? It’s Iraqis, not Americans, who will or won’t civil war.

Then on the Dubai port ownership fiasco, Broder writes:

Some portion of the antagonism stemmed directly from the fact that this is an Arab-based company.

“Some portion”?! Broder may be uncomfortable Democrats turned racist on this issue along with (more predictably) Republicans, but how can he suggest that anything but racism was involved?