Nice new reply to Cole, Jonah. The thing I like about this Cole business is that it gives a face to the battle to reform federal subsidies to Middle East Studies. Juan Cole and the Middle East Studies department at Columbia University are what contemporary Middle East Studies is all about. I’m usually frustrated by the fact that folks who haven’t actually spent time in the academy lately don’t know just how one-sided things are. Pay attention to Juan Cole and his MESA worshipers and you’ll understand. For the big picture, just read Martin Kramer’s still great book, Ivory Towers on Sand. And for the latest on Columbia, head to Kramer’s blog.