Kazin on Herf, et al

While we are over at Open University, Michael Kazin, in a post titled "Liberals, Terrorism, Iraq," makes mention of a statement largely authored by dcat friend and mentor Jeffrey Herf, who is, Kazin understates, "a smart historian from the University of Maryland." The signatories, Kazin points out, are divided over the war in Iraq, which he argues makes their ultimate efficacy as a unified group questionable. I think Kazin is wrong here. One can support the larger struggles we face while disagreeing on the merits of Iraq, especially if agreement can be reached on the broad contours of the desired outcomes for Iraq.