Now, I admire Vistica's reporting. His is a gripping, balanced, and illuminating story, one that deserved to be told. It is like saying that a biochemist knows more about drug addiction than a junkie because the biochemist understands the addiction mechanism of the brain. In an extremely literal way he does. But in a very real way he knows bullshit.
Analytical detachment is only a part of true understanding.
Certainly analytical detachment is insufficient to understand human character. It is interesting, Scott, that you mention Hitler's World War I medal. I think analytical detachment is also insufficient to understand political character. That doesn't necessarily make Kerrey morally superior to Bush fils , Gore, Clinton, et al., but in my mind it makes Gerhard Klann's haunting memory much less damning. All rights reserved.